HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Westminster Hall

Paul Flynn: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the (a) purpose and (b) cost is of the work currently being conducted at the New Palace Yard entrance to Westminster Hall.

John Thurso: As advertised in the summer Estates Work exhibition in Portcullis House, the purpose of the scaffolding both inside and outside of the North Wall in Westminster Hall is three-fold:
	to carry out conservation (cleaning and repair) works to the stone work of the North Wall and timber roof next to the North Wall;
	to carry out conservation (cleaning and repair) works to the North window tracery; and
	to install HM the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Window.
	The cost of these works, which are part of a wider Westminster Hall programme, is about £400,000 including VAT.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Access to Work Programme

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to ensure that access to work support packages involving assistive technology for newly recruited employees with a visual impairment will not be delayed by issues of software compatibility with the employer's own software.

Esther McVey: Access to work assessments carried out by Access to Work external assessment partners should always include checks and confirmation with an employer of compatibility where IT solutions are being considered.
	AtW Guidance to external assessment partners states that they must address issues of compatibility with employers’ IT systems.
	There will be occasions where bespoke systems will require scripting to ensure accessibility by visually impaired or blind customers. This process can take some time to complete and in such cases Access to Work will always provide interim solutions such as a support worker where this is appropriate.
	All AtW partners are required to undertake continuous professional development and as part of this keep up to date with changes and availability of new IT solutions for all disabled people.

Access to Work Programme

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to ensure the quality of access to work assessments for newly recruited (a) disabled employees and (b) employees with a visual impairment.

Esther McVey: In all cases DWP ensures that all assessment reports from Access to Work external partners are subject to scrutiny. Each report is examined by an experienced Access to Work adviser who will check the contents and only confirm that the report is fit for purpose once they are satisfied that the recommended solution will meet the needs of the disabled/visually impaired customer. Where the report is deemed not fit for purpose it is returned for re-working. This is not just carried out for newly recruited disabled/visually impaired customers but all assessments carried out within Access to Work.
	All external AtW assessment partners are also subject to monthly performance reviews and issues of quality and performance are always on the agenda.

Access to Work Programme

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the budget was for the Access to Work programme in each financial year since 2008-09.

Esther McVey: The total spend for the Access to Work programme since 2008-09 is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Total spend (£ million) 
			 2008-09 81 
			 2009-10 98 
			 2010-11 107 
			 2011-12 93

Access to Work Programme

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what budget he has allocated for the access to work programme in each financial year since up to 2014-15.

Esther McVey: I am unable to provide the current and future budget allocation for the Access to Work programme as it is indicative for business planning purposes, and is subject to further change.

Employment and Support Allowance

Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who appealed against a decision not to pay them employment and support allowance died before the determination of the appeal in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many such deaths were attributable to (a) illness and (b) suicide.

Mark Hoban: The information requested is not available.

Employment Schemes

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases involving people on each employment programme have been referred to the independent case examiner in the last year; and how long on average such cases took to resolve.

Mark Hoban: Details of the number of employment programme complaints received and accepted by Independent Case Examiner (ICE), and details of average case clearance times from April 2011, are provided in the following table:
	
		
			  2011-12 2012-13(1) 
			 Number of employment programme complaints received by ICE 98 141 
			 Number accepted by ICE 23 23 
			 Number that ICE was unable to accept 75 111 
			 Number awaiting ICE acceptance decision 0 7 
			 Number cleared by resolution 2 1 
			 ACT(2 )(weeks) 3.36 1.94 
			 Number cleared by investigation 1 5 
			 ACT(2 )(weeks) 26.65 22.69 
			 Number withdrawn 0 2 
			 ACT(2 )(weeks) — 22.27 
			 (1) These figures are up to the end of August 2012. (2) Average case clearance times. 
		
	
	The Independent Case Examiner's records did not distinguish between employment programmes during the above period.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 12 September 2012, Official Report, column 234W, on employment schemes: young people, 
	(1)  how many Youth Contract placements have been started in each Scottish local authority area; and what proportion of such placements are with small employers;
	(2)  how many wage part payment incentives have been made in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) the City of Edinburgh to employers with less than 50 employees following the successful completion of eight weeks' work.

Mark Hoban: The Youth Contract went live in April 2012. It includes wage incentives to employers taking on young people attached to the Work programme and extra work experience and sector-based work academy placements.
	In most cases wage incentives are paid after a young person has been in work continuously for 26 weeks. Following the collection and quality assurance of this data, I expect the first set of official statistics on wage incentive payment data to be available from early 2013. The Department is working to guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure we publish statistics that meet high quality standards at the earliest opportunity.
	Official statistics for work experience and sector-based work academy starts (pre-employment training only) from the start of the Youth Contract in April 2012 to May 2012 for each Scottish local authority are given in the following table. At present we only have these two months of data available; starts information up to August will be available in November 2012.
	
		
			 Number 
			 Local authority area Work experience starts Sector-based academy starts 
			 Aberdeen City 10 — 
			 Aberdeenshire 10 — 
			 Angus 30 — 
			 Argyll and Bute 20 — 
			 Clackmannanshire 10 — 
			 Dumfries and Galloway 50 — 
			 Dundee City 20 — 
			 East Ayrshire 40 — 
			 East Dunbartonshire 20 — 
			 East Lothian — — 
			 East Renfrewshire 20 — 
			 Edinburgh, City of 40 20 
			 Eilean Siar — — 
			 Falkirk 40 10 
			 Fife 80 — 
			 Glasgow City 130 20 
			 Highland 50 — 
			 Inverclyde 30 — 
			 Midlothian — — 
			 Moray 10 — 
			 North Ayrshire 70 — 
			 North Lanarkshire 70 — 
			 Orkney Islands — — 
			 Perth and Kinross 10 — 
			 Renfrewshire 40 20 
			 Scottish Borders 20 — 
			 Shetland Islands — — 
			 South Ayrshire 30 — 
			 South Lanarkshire 70 10 
			 Stirling 20 — 
			 West Dunbartonshire 20 10 
			 West Lothian 60 20 
			 Unknown 10 30 
			 Total 1,030 200 
			 Notes: 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Where there are less than 10 starts in a local authority area the number is masked (—). 3. The figures reported here will be an undercount of the Scotland region total as we have masked local authority area data where there are less than 10 starts. 
		
	
	We do not routinely collect data on employers by size and neither do we require claimants to tell us which employer they have successfully found work with, therefore we do not what proportion of placements are with small employers.

Employment: North West

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) jobs, (b) apprenticeships and (c) work experience placements have been created in (i) the North West and (ii) Warrington since the launch of the Youth Jobs Fund; and what the average financial cost was of each position created.

Mark Hoban: There is no Youth Jobs Fund. The Youth Contract, which was launched in April 2012, will provide nearly half-a-million new opportunities for young people over the next three years.

Food: Bradford

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will visit Bradford to examine the work of Bradford Metropolitan Food Bank and the Citizens Advice Bureau in providing food parcels for poor families and children in the city.

Mark Hoban: At present my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has no planned visits to Bradford. However, should an invite be received from the two organisations, they will be considered as part of the future visit programme.

Housing Benefit

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many couples in (a) England and (b) Bolton North East constituency are liable for the non-dependent deduction from housing benefit.

Steve Webb: The information requested is not currently available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Housing Benefit

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much Bolton metropolitan borough council has been allocated from the discretionary housing payment fund in 2012-13; and how much it was allocated in each of the previous three financial years.

Steve Webb: The Government contribution allocated towards discretionary housing payments for Bolton metropolitan borough council for 2012-13 and the three preceding years is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Government contribution towards discretionary housing payments (£) 
			 2012-13 201,943 
			 2011-12 101,486 
			 2010-11 76,386 
			 2009-10 68,762

Housing Benefit

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the effects of raising to 35 years the age threshold of the shared accommodation rate since January 2012.

Steve Webb: The Department has commissioned a consortium of academics and research organisations led by Ian Cole, professor of housing studies at Sheffield Hallam university to undertake an independent review of the impact of changes to the local housing allowance system of housing benefit.
	One element of the research is to consider the impact of the changes to the shared room allowance and raising the age threshold to 35 years.
	The Department published a report of early findings on 14 June and a copy of the report has been lodged in the House Library.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government, the Scottish Government and Welsh Assembly Government are working in close partnership with the DWP and contributing to the costs of the review.

Housing Benefit

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how the proposed withdrawal of housing benefit from social housing tenants under-occupying their homes will apply to a couple resident in social housing where one is of working age and the other is over retirement age.

Steve Webb: At the point at which the under-occupancy measure is introduced in April 2013 couples who are in receipt of housing benefit under the rules for those who have attained the qualifying age for pension credit will not be affected. This includes couples where one partner is under the qualifying age for pension credit and the other is over that age.
	Once housing benefit has been abolished for new claims, couples making new claims to benefit will be entitled to housing support through pension credit if both are above the qualifying age, or to universal credit if one partner is below the qualifying age. The rules on under-occupancy in universal credit will apply in the latter case.

Housing Benefit: Greater London

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants have been affected by the housing benefit cap in each London borough since its introduction; and what the average reduction in benefit was in each case.

Steve Webb: The information is not available. The Department for Work and Pensions published an impact assessment in July 2010 which estimated the number of people affected and the average loss for those affected. This is available in Table 20 at the following web address:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/local-authority-staff/housing-benefit/claims-processing/local-housing-allowance/impact-of-changes.shtml

Housing Benefit: Greater London

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many private sector tenants in each London borough have been rehoused as a result of housing benefit changes in the last year; and how many such tenants have been rehoused (a) in their own borough, (b) elsewhere in London and (c) out of London.

Steve Webb: The Department has commissioned a consortium of academics and research organisations led by Ian Cole, professor of housing studies at Sheffield Hallam university, to undertake an independent review of the impact of changes to the local housing allowance system of housing benefit.
	Elements of the research are the impacts on homelessness and a spatial analysis of the effects of the changes that will examine movement from one local authority to another.
	The Department published a report of early findings on 14 June and a copy of the report has been lodged in the House Library.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government, the Northern Ireland Executive through the Department for Social Development, the Scottish Government and Welsh Assembly Government are working in close partnership with the DWP and contributing to the costs of the review.

Housing Benefit: South East

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 7 February 2012, Official Report, column 238W, on social security benefits, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) housing benefit and (b) local housing allowance claimants in (i) Brighton and Hove local authority area and (ii) the South East of England who will lose money under the household benefit cap from April 2013.

Steve Webb: On 16 July 2012 the Department published an updated impact assessment for the household benefit cap. This estimated that in the first year of its implementation (the financial year 2013-14) in Great Britain 56,000 households would be affected by the cap.
	A copy of the table, “Local Authority breakdown of those affected by the benefit cap”, will be placed in the House of Commons Library. The table will show the estimated number of households in each local authority likely to have their benefit reduced by the household benefit cap, and a subdivision into numbers whose reduction is: (a) between £0 and £50 per week; (b) between £50 and £100 per week; and (c) more than £100 per week. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 100. Numbers for areas with fewer than 100 households affected have not been provided as additional disclosure control has been applied to these areas. For this reason, figures will not sum to the Great Britain total number of households affected in the July 2012 impact assessment for the household benefit cap.
	It is estimated that around 5,200 households on housing benefit in the south east of England will have their benefits reduced under the benefit cap from April 2013.
	It is estimated that around 50% of the households that may have their benefits reduced under the benefit cap from April 2013 in Brighton and Hove and the south east of England are in receipt of local housing allowance. This is around 100 households in Brighton and Hove and 2,500 in the south east of England.
	The figures in the table and the figures highlighted above assume that the situation of these households will go unchanged, and they will not take any steps to either work enough hours to qualify for working tax credit, renegotiate their rent in situ, or find alternative accommodation. The Department is identifying and writing to all the households who are likely to be affected by the cap and we are offering advice and support through Jobcentre Plus, including, where appropriate, early access to the Work Programme before the cap is introduced in April 2013.

Internet

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of (a) the use made by his Department and (b) the potential commercial value of the 51.0.0.0/8 block of IPv4 addresses and whether it could be restored to public use.

Mark Hoban: The Department for Work and Pensions holds a block of 16,777,216 IP addresses. The vast majority have already been allocated within the Department and across Government, the remainder being as yet unassigned.
	The Department is aware of recent conjecture that the remaining addresses may have potential commercial value and is evaluating this further. The Department's understanding is that any unrequired addresses would have to be returned to RIPE, the European governing body for the allocation of IP addresses.
	If there is a legal and legitimate means by which unrequired addresses can be sold and have material value, the Department will take the necessary steps to act on this.

Morecambe and Lunesdale: Funding

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what funding his Department has allocated to Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency since 2010.

Mark Hoban: Funding for benefit expenditure is not allocated to parliamentary constituencies; benefit is payable to claimants meeting the eligibility criteria.
	Identifiable benefit expenditure for Morecambe and Lunesdale was £213.4 million in 2010-11 and £220.8 million in 2011-12. The increase in expenditure was due mainly to impact of benefit up-rating. These figures cover benefits that nationally account for around 80% of total DWP benefit spending. Information on the remaining benefits, of which housing benefit, council tax benefit and statutory maternity pay are the most significant, is not available at constituency level.
	The expenditure by benefit can be found in the expenditure by parliamentary constituency table published here:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/pc_expenditure.xls
	Source:
	DWP Statistical and Accounting Data

Ministerial Visits: Nottinghamshire

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what ministerial visits to (a) the City of Nottingham and (b) Nottinghamshire have taken place since May 2010.

Mark Hoban: The following visits to Nottingham and Nottinghamshire have taken place since May 2010 by this Department's Ministers.
	
		
			  Minister 
			 10 February 2012 Steve Webb MP Minister for Pensions 
			 21 June 2012 Maria Miller MP Minister for Disabled People 
			 24 July 2012 Chris Grayling Minister for Employment 
			 27 September 2012 Lord Freud Minister for Welfare Reform

Child Care

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many childcare places his Department provides on its estate; what the cost is of providing such places; how many such places his Department provided in 2010; what the cost was of providing such places in 2010; what plans he has for changes in the provision of such childcare places; and what the number of places will be once any such changes have been implemented.

Mark Hoban: DWP has nursery provision for three of its sites: Glasgow; Leeds; and London (Westminster). DWP staff also utilise provision through a Department of Education site in Sheffield. Department of Health staffs also access the DWP facility in Leeds. Costs identified are for staff subsidies only, the costs for the estate are contained within the overall estate cost but we assume this to be de minimus for nursery provision. There are no plans formally to review the overall provision. However, the appropriateness, viability and cost of local arrangements will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
	
		
			 DWP child care provision 
			 Location Capacity Costs (£)(1) 
			  2010 2012 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Glasgow 49 49 Nil Nil 
			 Leeds 46 46 24,600 20,609 
			 London (Westminster) 31 31 11,100 6,563 
			 Sheffield (2)— (2)— 44,480 53,443 
			 (1 )April to March. (2 )Not known. Notes: 1. The Glasgow and London facilities are within DWP estates and are managed by DWP. 2. The Leeds facility is within the DWP/DoH estate, but is managed by DWP. 3. The Sheffield facility is within the Department for Education estate, which is accessed by DWP staff resulting in a cost to DWP.

Personal Independence Payment

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether a personal independence payment assessment centre will be sited in Bedford constituency.

Esther McVey: Details of where face-to-face consultations will be carried out are yet to be determined.
	Atos, who will be responsible for the delivery of PIP assessments in the Bedford constituency, are currently in negotiation with their supply chain to secure the premises from which they will be carried out. Atos hope to have these contracts in place by the end of October.

Research

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on research and development in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12; and how much he plans to spend in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

Mark Hoban: Departmental expenditure on research and development is against social research. The following figures reflect bought-in social research and an estimate of in-house social research (salaries and related expenditure):
	
		
			 ID Financial year ending 31 March Spend (£ million) 
			 (a) 2008-09 19 
			 (b) 2009-10 (1)36 
			 (c) 2010-11 28 
			 (d) 2011-12 20 
			 (i) 2012-13 (2)20 
			 (ii) 2013-14 (3)n/a 
			 (iii) 2014-15 (3)n/a 
			 (1) Spend figures taken from discrete R&D budgets. This was expanded in 2009-10 reporting to include R&D funded by all other means, e.g. programme funding. (2) Forecast. (3) We do not currently have a planned figure for future years.

Social Security Benefits

David Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are paid either benefit or pension by way of cheque payment in Bury North constituency.

Steve Webb: The information is not available in the exact format requested as data held relate to payment accounts rather than the actual number of people. A person may receive a separate cheque payment for each benefit or pension they are entitled to, or a single, combined payment.
	As at May 2012, 360 benefit and pension payment accounts were paid by cheque in the Bury North constituency.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of benefit fraud his Department investigated in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; and how many such investigations were upheld.

Mark Hoban: The Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) is responsible for benefit fraud investigation within the Department for Work and Pensions.
	The figures provided in the following table are the number of cases closed for each financial year (1 April to 31 March), following an investigation. We have provided the information by financial year as the number of convictions for benefit fraud offences is not available for calendar years and is available only for financial years. For consistency, all the information provided is in financial years.
	
		
			 Cases closed 
			  Number 
			 2009-10 150,365 
			 2010-11 155,559 
			 2011-12 166,073 
		
	
	Some cases initially opened for investigation by FIS might subsequently be referred to customer compliance (CC) teams for continued action at any time if it is clear that a criminal penalty would not be appropriate. CC deal with less serious cases where full criminal investigation is judged unnecessary, enabling FIS to focus on higher risk frauds. In cases dealt with by CC teams the rate of benefit will be adjusted if appropriate, the customer will be made aware of the rules and the recovery of any overpayment will be instigated. The following table details the number of cases referred to CC for each financial year requested.
	
		
			 Cases referred to customer compliance 
			  Number 
			 2009-10 148,992 
			 2010-11 155,805 
			 2011-12 198,546 
		
	
	The figures provided in the following table are the number of cases where fraud was proved and the subsequent outcome for each financial year requested.
	
		
			 Number 
			  Administrative penalties Cautions Convictions for benefit fraud offences 
			 2009-10 7,249 15,117 7,040 
			 2010-11 7,625 15,574 8,598 
			 2011-12 7,364 15,939 9,861 
		
	
	The number of cases closed may not directly relate to the number of administrative penalties, cautions and convictions in the same year and therefore the data cannot be directly compared. This is due to the length of time it can take for some cases to conclude and sentencing to be passed, which may span more than one tax year.
	The information supplied by the Department has not been subjected to the rigorous quality assurance checks applied to our published official statistics. It is therefore possible this information may change due to operational reasons.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff his Department employs to investigate benefit fraud; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of investigation of benefit fraud in the last year for which figures are available.

Mark Hoban: The Department's Fraud Investigation Service had 2,823 full time equivalent members of staff in employment on 12 August 2012 to investigate benefit fraud.
	The Department's Fraud Investigation Service total spend for investigating benefit fraud in 2011-12 was £99.5 million.
	The total amount of recoverable overpayments identified as a result of fraud investigations for 2011-12 is £214,832,021.
	The information supplied by the Department for recoverable overpayments has not been subjected to the rigorous quality assurance checks applied to our published official statistics. It is therefore possible this information may change due to operational reasons.

Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what media or public speaking training Ministers in his Department have received since May 2010.

Mark Hoban: The following DWP Ministers have received media or public speaking training since May 2010.
	Maria Miller
	Lord Freud

Unemployment

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level of unemployment is amongst black and ethnic minority (a) adults and (b) young people in each local authority area.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated September 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, 1 have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the level of unemployment amongst black and ethnic minority (a) adults and (b) young people was in each local authority area in the country (120322).
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (IL0) definitions. Unfortunately, the sample size does not support the requested analyses of unemployment levels for requested age bands and ethnicities.
	As an alternative, in Table 1, we have provided the number of people of ethnic minority, aged 16 to 24 and 25 and over claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) resident in each of the local authorities in Great Britain for July 2012. As the information requested is quite extensive, a copy has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and JSA count are available on the Nomis website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Unemployment Benefits: Young People

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of young people in each (a) region, (b) parliamentary constituency and (c) local authority are claiming out of work benefits.

Mark Hoban: I will be depositing the “Statistical Analysis” table in the Library. This covers how many and what proportion of young people in each (a) region, (b) parliamentary constituency and (c) local authority are claiming out of work benefits.

Universal Credit

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect of implementation of plans for housing cost contribution under universal credit; what estimate he has made of the number of people likely to be affected by the plans; and what estimate his Department has provided of the number of such people who will pay (a) more and (b) less under the new system.

Steve Webb: The information is not available in the form requested.
	The draft universal credit regulations published on 15 June make provision for deductions from a tenant's housing cost element (including the rental part of a shared owner's housing cost element) in respect of contributions expected from specified categories of non-dependant living in the household. Such deductions, where applicable, would be at a flat rate. That amount has not yet been set.
	No deductions in respect of housing cost contributions are made where the claimant or his or her partner are within certain specified categories and certain categories of qualifying non-dependant will not attract a deduction in respect of housing cost contributions as set out in the draft regulations.
	This approach is simpler to that taken in housing benefit but maintains the fairness of the long-established principle that non-dependants should make a contribution to their housing costs.

Work Capability Assessment

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have (a) undergone work capability assessments, (b) been found capable of work, (c) appealed against their assessment and (d) been successful in their appeals in each London local authority area since April 2010; and what proportion of the relevant caseload this represents in each case.

Mark Hoban: Table 1 as follows presents the outcomes of initial employment and support allowance (ESA) work capability assessments (WCAs) in the London region for claims that started between April 2010 and November 2011, including actions on these claims up to May 2012, broken down by local authority.
	
		
			 Table 1: Outcomes of initial WCAs in London for claims starting between April 2010 and November 2011 by local authority 
			  Number of completed assessments Proportion of completed assessments (percentage) 
			 Local authority Entitled to ESA Fit for Work Completed WCAs Entitled to ESA Fit for Work 
			 City of London 10 20 30 35 65 
			 Barking and Dagenham 910 1,610 2,520 36 64 
			 Barnet 1,030 1,710 2,750 38 62 
			 Bexley 830 970 1,800 46 54 
			 Brent 1,060 2,300 3,360 32 68 
			 Bromley 990 1,100 2,090 48 52 
			 Camden 920 1,120 2,040 45 55 
			 Croydon 1,440 2,020 3,460 42 58 
			 Ealing 1,190 1,830 3,010 39 61 
			 Enfield 1,290 1,860 3,150 41 59 
			 Greenwich 1,020 1,690 2,710 38 62 
			 Hackney 1,000 1,950 2,950 34 66 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 720 980 1,700 42 58 
		
	
	
		
			 Haringey 1,130 1,770 2,900 39 61 
			 Harrow 660 1,160 1,810 36 64 
			 Havering 850 1,140 1,990 43 57 
			 Hillingdon 930 1,430 2,350 39 61 
			 Hounslow 930 1,170 2,100 44 56 
			 Islington 1,180 1,520 2,690 44 56 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 540 690 1,240 44 56 
			 Kingston upon Thames 380 580 960 40 60 
			 Lambeth 1,160 2,140 3,300 35 65 
			 Lewisham 1,180 1,960 3,140 38 62 
			 Merton 580 860 1,430 40 60 
			 Newham 1,010 2,260 3,270 31 69 
			 Redbridge 900 1,420 2,320 39 61 
			 Richmond upon Thames 390 500 890 44 56 
			 Southwark 1,090 1,930 3,020 36 64 
			 Sutton 560 840 1,400 40 60 
			 Tower Hamlets 960 2,070 3,040 32 68 
			 Waltham Forest 1,140 1,510 2,640 43 57 
			 Wandsworth 770 1,340 2,110 37 63 
			 Westminster 950 1,220 2,170 44 56 
			 Total 29,690 46,630 76,330 39 61 
			 Notes: 1. The figures are derived from administrative data held by the Department for Work and Pensions and assessment data provided by Atos Healthcare. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Hence totals may not sum exactly. 3. The figures cover initial ESA assessments only. IB reassessment and repeat ESA assessment figures are excluded. 
		
	
	Table 2 as follows presents the outcomes of appeals on Fit for Work decisions made at initial ESA WCAs in the London region for claims that started between April 2010 and May 2011 (the latest data available), including actions on these claims up to May 2012, broken down by local authority.
	
		
			 Table 2: Appeals on Fit for Work decisions made at initial ESA WCAs in London for claims that started between April 2010 and May 2011 
			 Local authority Number of Fit for Work decisions Number of completed appeals DWP decision overturned DWP decision upheld 
			 City of London 20 0 0 0 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,180 340 80 250 
			 Barnet 1,300 510 220 290 
			 Bexley 740 320 150 170 
			 Brent 1,740 600 250 350 
			 Bromley 820 310 130 180 
			 Camden 850 350 170 180 
			 Croydon 1,520 570 240 330 
			 Ealing 1,440 490 170 320 
			 Enfield 1,430 480 150 340 
			 Greenwich 1,330 540 240 300 
			 Hackney 1,480 590 260 320 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 760 300 130 180 
			 Haringey 1,330 460 160 300 
			 Harrow 880 260 110 150 
			 Havering 810 190 50 140 
		
	
	
		
			 Hillingdon 1,160 370 150 210 
			 Hounslow 960 360 150 200 
			 Islington 1,150 440 190 250 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 520 180 70 100 
			 Kingston upon Thames 420 160 90 70 
			 Lambeth 1,630 670 320 350 
			 Lewisham 1,490 580 280 300 
			 Merton 630 260 130 140 
			 Newham 1,720 640 230 410 
			 Redbridge 1,040 320 100 220 
			 Richmond upon Thames 410 170 90 80 
			 Southwark 1,520 610 300 310 
			 Sutton 630 270 140 130 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,620 670 260 410 
			 Waltham Forest 1,150 360 130 230 
			 Wandsworth 1,030 410 200 210 
			 Westminster 930 350 150 210 
			 Total 35,650 13,130 5,500 7,620 
			 Notes: 1. The figures are derived from administrative data held by the Department for Work and Pensions and assessment data provided by Atos Healthcare. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Hence totals may not sum exactly. 3. The figures cover initial ESA assessments only. IB reassessment and repeat ESA assessment figures are excluded. 4. These figures only cover appeals made on Fit for Work decisions.

Work Capability Assessment

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last met disabled groups to discuss Atos and the work capability assessment; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The WCA was developed by the DWP working in close consultation with medical and other experts and specialist disability charities. The Department continues to value the views of disability groups and we are engaged in ongoing and helpful dialogue both at ministerial and official level with group representatives.

Work Capability Assessment

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people with identified mental health conditions who were subject to a work capability assessment (a) took their case to appeal and (b) were successful at appeal since July 2011.

Mark Hoban: The information requested is not available.

Unemployment: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people between the age of 16 and 64 years were economically inactive in each electoral ward in the Peterborough City Council area on 31 March (a) 2001, (b) 2005 and (c) 2012; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated September 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people between the age of 16 and 64 years were economically inactive on 31 March (a) 2001, (b) 2005 and (c) 2012 by electoral ward in the Peterborough City Council area; and if he will make a statement. (121456)(121458)
	Estimates for the number of people aged 16 to 64 economically inactive by electoral ward are produced from the Census. Latest Census data available by electoral ward are for the 2001 Census, data for 2011 Census have yet to be released.
	Table 1 shows the number of people aged 16 to 64 economically inactive resident in each electoral ward in Peterborough from the 2001 Census.
	Estimates for the number of people aged 16 to 64 economically inactive for Peterborough parliamentary constituency are available from the Annual Population Survey (APS). Earliest data available are for the 12 month APS period January to December 2004.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of economically inactive people aged 16 to 64 resident by electoral wards in Peterborough in 2001 
			  Aged 16 to 64 
			 Barnack 346 
			 Bretton North 1,433 
			 Bretton South 473 
			 Central 2,064 
			 Dogsthorpe 1,606 
			 East 1,515 
			 Eye and Thorney 658 
			 Fletton 1,044 
			 Glinton and Wittering 715 
			 Newborough 286 
			 North 824 
			 Northborough 331 
			 Orton Longueville 1,679 
			 Orton Waterville 1,084 
			 Orton with Hampton 375 
			 Park 1,111 
			 Paston 1,282 
			 Ravensthorpe 1,246 
			 Stanground Central 1,122 
			 Stanground East 429 
			 Walton 662 
			 Werrington North 931 
			 Werrington South 857 
			 West 1,266 
			 Source: 2001 Census

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Electoral Register: Illegal Immigrants

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he has put in place to prevent illegal immigrants from registering on the electoral roll.

Chloe Smith: The annual canvass form and the provisions for rolling registration effectively capture a person's nationality. The electoral registration officer (ERO) uses this information to determine a person's eligibility to register.
	The Electoral Registration and Administration Bill will speed up the implementation of individual electoral registration (IER), beginning in 2014 and resulting in a register containing only individually-registered electors (with the exception of some armed forces personnel) in December 2015. Under IER, the application forms and any other registration channels will explain very clearly the eligibility requirements for registration. In addition, all electors declaring a Commonwealth nationality will be asked to declare their immigration status.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to the answer of 30 April 2012, Official Report, column 1348W, on female genital mutilation, what recent progress has been made in discussions with African countries on the prevention of female genital mutilation.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government is committed to preventing female genital cutting (FGC) and the Department for International Development (DFID) is designing a programme to address this issue. Discussions on the programme will be happening in Senegal and Kenya in the coming weeks. There is a growing momentum among African leaders to end this harmful practice. In particular, leaders from Uganda and Burkina Faso are championing change. In recent months, there have been discussions on ending FGC with a number of African countries including Sierra Leone, Somalia and Sudan. The outcome of these discussions will inform the design of DFID’s work toward ending FGC.

Argentina

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the UK representative at the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) voted against the proposed loan to Argentina from the IADB on 29 August 2012; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: The UK representative at the Inter-American Development Bank did not support this loan. The UK registered its abstention as part of our wider constituency with Japan, Portugal, Korea, Croatia and Slovenia.

CDC

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding the Commonwealth Development Council has received from her Department in each of the last five years.

Alan Duncan: DFID is not aware of an organisation called the Commonwealth Development Council.
	If the question refers to the Commonwealth Development Corporation, now CDC Group plc, then the answer is zero. CDC Group plc has received no funding from my Department in any of the last five years.

Maldives

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether her Department has any plans to provide support to the Maldives in reforming its judicial system.

Alan Duncan: No. Supporting legitimate security and justice institutions is a priority for DFID, and we are scaling up support to security and justice in 18 of the 28 countries where we have bilateral aid programmes. We do not have a bilateral aid programme in the Maldives.

Ministerial Visits: Nottinghamshire

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what ministerial visits to (a) the City of Nottingham and (b) Nottinghamshire have taken place since May 2010.

Justine Greening: The previous Secretary of State made a ministerial visit to Nottingham in March 2011. There have been no other ministerial visits to Nottingham/Nottinghamshire.

Overseas Aid

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent progress has been made by the Global Poverty Action Fund.

Lynne Featherstone: In its first two years the Department for International Development's (DFID) Global Poverty Action Fund (GPAF) has awarded 102 grants to support 89 civil society organisations and their partners to deliver poverty reduction to around 9 million poor people in over 30 countries in Africa and Asia. The GPAF supports a wide range of organisations, from the very small with annual incomes of less that £50,000, to faith based organisations, to not-for-profit organisations from across the UK. The GPAF is an accessible fund with nearly 70% of grantees awarded DFID funding for the first time. In addition, through the GPAF the UK Government have generated £51 million in matched funding.

Research

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department spent on research and development in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12; and how much she plans to spend in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

Lynne Featherstone: Research is essential for international development in order to generate new technologies, discover new ways of tackling poverty and provide evidence to improve the effectiveness and value for money of development programmes.
	DFID spent the following amounts on centrally commissioned research:
	(a) 2008-09: £125 million
	(b) 2009-10: £176 million
	(c) 2010-11: £202 million
	(d) 2011-12: £222 million.
	Total expenditure on research (excluding that spent by multilateral organisations) is published annually in the Statistics for International Development. This is available on the DFID website at:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-us?how-we-measure-progress/Aid-statistics/statistics-on-International-Development-2011/ (Table 20)
	Budgets for 2013-14 and 2014-15 are still to be formally agreed. DFID's anticipated budget for centrally commissioned research is expected to be around:
	(i) 2012-13: £230 million
	(ii) 2013-14: £305 million
	(iii) 2014-15: £320 million.
	Total spending on research across DFID in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 will result from spending decisions made by different countries and policy teams and so planning figures are not available.

Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what media or public speaking training Ministers in her Department have received since May 2010.

Justine Greening: No Ministers in my Department have received media or public speaking training since May 2010.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Broadband

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of any effect on Broadband Delivery UK of proposed changes to planning requirements in respect of (a) flexibility and (b) cost;
	(2)  what assessment her Department has made of the effect of proposed changes to planning permission requirements on the rate of installation of superfast broadband.

Edward Vaizey: Communications providers frequently reference the planning regime as a barrier to deployment, which can significantly increase cost, cause considerable delay and in some instances prevent deployment from happening at all. The proposed changes to the planning rules announced on 10 September 2012 are therefore designed to remove, or curtail, increased costs and barriers to progress and reduce the timeframe for roll-out projects. We will be publishing an impact assessment when we undertake a consultation on the proposed changes to the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations.

Broadband

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what support she plans to provide to those in rural areas who will not be covered by the superfast broadband programme.

Edward Vaizey: The local authority broadband plans are designed to support projects that deliver superfast broadband for 90% of premises and universal 2Mbps standard broadband. In addition, communities in locations that do not benefit from an upgrade to superfast broadband under the local authority project are eligible to apply for a grant from the Rural Community Broadband Fund to support community-led superfast broadband projects.

Broadband

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effect of proposed changes to planning permission requirements for the installation of broadband cabinets on (a) rural communities and (b) her 2015 broadband target.

Edward Vaizey: The Department will be publishing an impact assessment when we undertake a consultation on the proposed changes to the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire (Harriett Baldwin) of 3 September 2012, Official Report, column 217W, on broadband: rural areas, what recent update she has received from the European Commission regarding the request for approval of an umbrella state aid notification for broadband projects including at senior level.

Edward Vaizey: It is our understanding that the Commission is on track to issue its final decision in late October or early November 2012, which will allow projects to get under way.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the potential effects on rural businesses and communities who are not covered by the superfast broadband programme and who may not receive standard broadband until 2015.

Edward Vaizey: The Government has recognised the impact of broadband on business growth, which is well documented in publicly available studies, and that is why it has committed £530 million in the current spending round to stimulate further private investment in locations where the commercial investment case is weak. The Department has not made a specific assessment of impact of the timing of that investment, but it is fully committed to delivering the Government's broadband objectives.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2012, Official Report, column 217W, on broadband: rural areas, what recent progress she has made on EU state aid approval for BDUK spending on rural broadband schemes.

Edward Vaizey: Officials from the Department met with the European Commission on 6 September 2012 and continue to work with the Commission to clarify details on the UK umbrella notification; we anticipate a Commission decision, in time to allow projects to receive state aid clearance through the proposed BDUK State Aid National Competency Centre, in the autumn.

Broadband: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Scottish Government on the roll-out of superfast broadband.

Edward Vaizey: Since taking up office, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has had no discussions with the Scottish Government on the roll-out of superfast broadband.

Broadcasting Reception

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure public release of the UK Planning Model data on predicted television signal levels.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 5 September 2012
	The UK Planning Model is not owned by Government and we understand that due to its scale it would not be practical to make the model itself available. However, the output from the model is publicly available, through Digital UK's postcode database, which allows anyone to view predicted TV signal strengths across the UK, and has been used extensively to support the planning and implementation of digital TV switchover.

Charities

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what her policy is on the (a) grant to and (b) use by registered charities of funding from her Department for the purposes of advocacy, lobbying or campaigning; and if she will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: Registered charities that receive Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) grants, are expected to comply with the Charity Commission’s guidance on campaigning and political activity “Speaking out: Guidance on Campaigning and Political Activity by Charities”. Use of DCMS grants is also limited to the specific purpose for which each is given, and DCMS does not provide grants specifically for advocacy, lobbying or campaigning. In so far as the registered charity is also a DCMS non-departmental public body (NDPB), it is required to comply with Cabinet Office rules on lobbying, which reflect the long-standing principles that public bodies must be politically impartial, and must, at all times, ensure the proper use of public money. These rules are reflected in the NDPB’s framework documents. It should be noted that DCMS’s charitable NDPBs may have legitimate reasons to pursue advocacy, lobbying and campaigning, for example, in the context of fundraising.

Drinking Water

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much her Department has spent on departmental branded water bottles in the last year.

Hugh Robertson: The Department has not spent anything on branded water bottles in the last year.

Hartlepool: Heugh Breakwater

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if she will bring forward plans to list the Heugh Breakwater in Hartlepool constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is not aware of a current application relating to the listing of the Heugh Breakwater in Hartlepool.

Freeview Service

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2012, Official Report, column 1089W, on radio frequencies, by what process the funding to address the Freeview interference problems will be administered by Mitco.

Edward Vaizey: Mitco is still in the process of being set up and as such the governance procedures have yet to be determined. Mitco will be owned and funded by the new 800 MHz licensees and it will be a matter for them to decide how the money will be spent. Any underspend will be returned to the 800 MHz licensees.

Morecambe and Lunesdale: Funding

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what funding her Department has allocated to Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency since 2010.

Hugh Robertson: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) does not hold a breakdown of funding by constituency, and to collate this information for all DCMS policy areas could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Ministeral Visits: Nottinghamshire

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what ministerial visits to (a) the City of Nottingham and (b) Nottinghamshire have taken place since May 2010.

Hugh Robertson: Ministers from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have had the pleasure of making several visits to Nottingham and Nottinghamshire since the last election. Some visits have focused on sport such as Nottingham Mapperly Sport Village, Ellis Guildford School and Sports College and Olympic roadshows, whilst others have focused on more cultural highlights such as art galleries and playhouses.

Olympic Games 2012

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether her Department has access to the database of volunteers at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.

Hugh Robertson: The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games volunteer database is owned and managed by the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG). The Department does not have access to this database, although LOCOG keeps us updated on plans to enable sports, volunteering and arts sectors to be able to send messages through it.

Pay

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the highest paid position is in (a) her Department and (b) her Department's agencies.

Hugh Robertson: The highest paid position in the Department is held by the Director General for the Government Olympic Executive on a fixed term contract ending in October 2012. His remuneration, agreed with HM Treasury and Cabinet Office, reflects extensive relevant experience and the unique challenge of delivering the Olympics to a fixed deadline.
	Remuneration details are disclosed in our Annual Reports and Accounts, the most recent of which can be found at:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/Annual_Report_and_Accounts_2010_11.pdf
	The highest paid position in our executive agency, The Royal Parks, is held by its chief executive.

Plants

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much her Department spent on plants in the last 12 months.

Hugh Robertson: The Department has spent £1,558.34 on plants in the last 12 months.
	In 2007-08, the cost was £24,730; in 2008-09 it was £15,025; in 2009-10, it was £15,027.39; and in 2011-12, it was £2,278.

Procurement

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the name is of each company with which her Department has a contract; what the monetary value of each such contract is; and what is provided to her Department under the terms of the contract.

Hugh Robertson: Table l following sets out details of on-going contracts with an estimated annual value of services provided to the Department.
	
		
			 Table 1 
			 Contractor Services provided Estimated annual value (£) 
			 Brook Street Temp Framework 220,000 
			 Hogg Robinson Travel Services—Rail (CATALIST) 130,000 
			 Capita Business Services Travel Services—Air/Ferry (CATALIST) 300,000 
			 Atos Origin DCMS ICT Contract 3,500,000 
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers; PMP Consultancy; Halliwells Commercial Economic and Financial Analysis in Respect of London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games 100,000 
			 Ecovert Mailroom and Associated Services 180,000 
			 Carillion Facilities Management Services 1,020,000 
			 Eaga Digital Switchover Help Scheme—Collection of Personal Data 1,180,000 
			 Liberata Managed Financial and Accounting Transactional Services 533,000 
			 EC Harris Ceremonial and Events Management 160,000 
			 Workplace Options Employee Advisory Resource 16,600 
			 Visiting Arts Cultural Contact Point 25,000 
			 Grant Thornton Meta Evaluation of 2012 Olympic Games 466,000 
			 Sport Resolutions (UK) National Anti-Doping Panel and Supporting Admin 300,000 
			 Ashbourne ODP (Fairplace) Outplacement and Career Transition Support Services (1)55,000 
			 TNS-BMRB Taking Part: England's Survey of Culture, Leisure and Sport 1,120,000 
			 Pinsent Masons Legal Services for Broadband Delivery UK Programme 400,000 
			 REMA Temporary Executive Coaching 10,000 
			 Youth Sports Trust School Games—Commercial Rights Adviser (2)— 
			 KPMG Support for Broadband Delivery Programme 300,000 
			 Analysys Mason/IDATE Network Analysis Services Concerning Broadband Delivery UK 80,000 
			 Enterprise Provision of Flag Flying Services 52,000 
			 Digital Testing Group (DTG) Testing of Consumer TV Products Against Digital Switchover Broadcast Signal 279,000 
			 British Horseracing Authority Grant Administration To Support British Racing 150,000 
			 Pinsent Masons Legal Services for Mobile Infrastructure Project 400,000 
			 Atos Advisers for Mobile Infrastructure Project 600,000 
			 Capita (CIPHER) Local Authority Lead 71,000 
			 (1) Initial value could increase, depending on take up of the voluntary redundancy scheme. (2) Amount paid is relative to amount of sponsorship raised. 
		
	
	Table 2 following sets out details of single tender contracts for services provided to the Department.
	
		
			 Table 2 
			 Contractor Services Provided Estimated Total Value (£) 
			 Sheffield Hallam University Economic Impact of Sport—Sport Satellite Accounts 90,000 
			 Eliesha Training Learning and Development Programme 50,000 
			 Local Partnerships LLP Support for Broadband Delivery Programme 900,000 
			 The EPPI Centre, (Institute of Education, University of London) Case Database Update 1 and 2 18,900 
			 Genecon Rural Broadband Finance and Business Sector 19,000 
			 Burns Owen Partnership Consulting CASE Programme: Business Models 85,000 
			 Capita (CIPHER) Technical Accountant for Alignment Project 40,000 
			 Capita (CIPHER) Assistant Accountant for Alignment Project 58,000 
			 Mediatique Investigation and Development of Alternative Regulations for Re-Transmission Fees 25,000 
			 Technologia Ltd The Value and Optimal management of Channel Position and Prominence on Electronic Programme Guides 50,000 
			 Aegis Systems Ltd Digital Radio Receiver Sensitivity Testing 25,000 
			 Capita (CIPHER) Finance Interim—Kendrick Macpherson 11,000 
			 Capita (CIPHER) Information assurance and Business Continuity Lead 29,000 
			 Grant Thornton Liquidation Services for Museums, Libraries and Archives Council 15,000 
			 Grant Thornton Liquidation Services for nine subsidiaries of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council 15,000 
			 TNS Research International Tourism Board Marketing Expenditure Return on Investment—The Impact of Displacement 15,000 
			 Information Processing Limited (IPL) Information Security Audit 50,000 
			 Capita (CIPHER) Projects Director within Broadband Delivery UK Project Team 160,000 
			 Capita (CIPHER) State Aid Co-Ordinator 68,000 
			 Capita (CIPHER) Executive Role Within Broadband Delivery UK 203,000 
			 Capita (CIPHER) Consolidation Accountant 64,000 
			 Capita (CIPHER) Broadband Campaigns Lead 51,000 
			 Capita (CIPHER) PMO Lead Role 70,000 
			 Capita (CIPHER) Data Modelling Officer 136,000 
			 Capita (CIPHER) MIP Commercial Lead 187,000 
			 Capita (CIPHER) Internal Communications Manager 35,000 
			 Odgers Berndston Recruitment of Chair for Arts Council England 9,500 
			 Capita (CIPHER) Local Body Delivery Lead 94,000 
			 Capita (CIPHER) Commercial Lead for Urban Broadband Fund 129,000 
			 Aircom International Limited MIP—Radio and Transmission Nominal Planning 100,000 
			 Capita Symonds Workplace Design 40,000 
			 Opinion Leader Games Marketing Rights 10,000 
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers Commercial Expertise to LOCOG 168,000 
			 Liberata LPW Scheme Administration (changes to Criteria) 55,000

Public Libraries

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what criteria determine whether a community library is or is not considered as part of a local authority's statutory provision of a comprehensive and efficient public library service.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 5 September 2012
	It is for library authorities to determine which libraries form part of their statutory comprehensive and efficient library service, having assessed local need in light of available resources.
	It is entirely possible for a volunteer-supported or community managed library to be included within the group of libraries that form part of a library authority's statutory service. The library authority must determine what facilities and resources it needs in order to deliver a comprehensive and efficient public library service.

Research

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much her Department spent on research and development in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12; and how much she plans to spend in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

Hugh Robertson: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) research consists of the collection and analysing of data about the work of our sectors. The following table sets out the Department’s spend and projected spend on such research. These figures include contributions by DCMS arm’s length bodies. For future years, these figures are based on current plans, and subsequent budgetary reviews may cause these to change.
	
		
			  DCMS spend on research (£000) 
			 2008-09 3,290 
			 2009-10 3,449 
			 2010-11 3,595 
			 2011-12 2,605 
			 2012-13 2,612 
			 2013-14 2,062 
			 2014-15 1,849

Sports: Disability

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether she plans to take steps to encourage broadcasters to televise more disabled sports in addition to the Paralympic Games.

Edward Vaizey: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport intends to have introductory meetings with the broadcasters soon to discuss a range of issues, including their plans to build on the legacy of the Olympics and Paralympics.

Tourism: Lancashire

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps her Department has taken to maintain tourist visitor numbers at attractions in the Lune Valley and Carnforth.

Hugh Robertson: The Lune Valley and Carnforth are an important part of our tourism offer. Although VisitEngland, our national tourism board, does not promote at the local level, it does engage in national promotions and public relations work which benefits such locations as north Lancashire. VisitEngland is currently developing four thematic marketing campaigns based on city, coast, countryside and heritage, and Lune Valley and Carnforth embodies all four.
	A new Destination Management Organisation is currently being set up in Lancashire which will be covering the Lune Valley and Carnforth constituency, and VisitEngland staff will be meeting with their team during September to discuss key priorities, and to look further at promotion and development opportunities.

Tourism: Yorkshire

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received on the status of Yorkshire as a destination for tourism; and if she will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: I have not directly received representations about its status as a tourist destination, but Yorkshire is an important part of our overall tourism offer and is featured in the marketing and promotional efforts of VisitBritain and VisitEngland.

SCOTLAND

Food

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last visited a food bank; and when he next plans to do so.

Michael Moore: I have not visited a food bank recently but am aware of the hon. Member's concerns on this issue and can reassure her of the Government's commitment to addressing the issues that can lead to food bank use. I look forward to discussing this with her when we meet in the near future.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Domestic Violence

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Attorney-General 
	(1)  how many prosecutions of (a) men and (b) women for acts of domestic violence there were in (i) Stockport, (ii) Greater Manchester and (iii) each Crown Prosecution Service area in England and Wales in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many convictions of (a) men and (b) women for acts of domestic violence there were in (i) Stockport, (ii) Greater Manchester and (iii) each Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains a central record of the outcomes of defendant proceedings identified as involving offences of domestic violence.
	Tables containing the numbers of completed defendant prosecutions and convictions, for men and women, recorded by the CPS in the Greater Manchester area and all 42 police force areas of England and Wales during the last five years have been deposited in the Library of the House.

Female Genital Mutilation

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to review the rate of prosecutions of offences involving female genital mutilation; and if he will make a statement.

Oliver Heald: The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) chaired a roundtable meeting on 28 September 2012, about prosecuting offences of FGM. A number of interested parties including members of the All Party Parliamentary Group, police officers, medical professionals, and charities supporting victims of FGM, were invited to explore how to overcome the barriers to reporting the offence and produce sufficient evidence to support a successful prosecution. There is likely to be a follow up meeting next summer to see what progress has been made. In the circumstances, 1 have no plans to review the rate of prosecutions for offences involving female genital mutilation (FGM).

Research

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Attorney-General how much the Law Officers' Departments spent on research and development in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12; and how much they plan to spend in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

Oliver Heald: The Law Officers' Departments have spent no money on research and development in 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 and have no plans to do so in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Priti Patel: To ask the Attorney-General pursuant to the answer of 5 September 2011, Official Report, columns 125-6W, on social security benefits: fraud, how many arrest warrants had been issued in cases where a defendant had failed to attend a hearing or trial without an explanation acceptable to the court on the most recent date for which figures are available; what the monetary value of the alleged fraud was in each such case; and how many such warrants were successfully executed in the latest period for which figures are available.

Oliver Heald: Benefit fraud prosecutions that had previously been prosecuted by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) became the responsibility of the Crown Prosecution Service with effect from 1 April 2012.
	The Crown Prosecution Service does not however hold data on the number of warrants issued or successfully executed, or the monetary value of the alleged fraud in such cases. Such data could not be reasonably obtained locally or nationally other than by a manual exercise which would incur a disproportionate cost.

WALES

Research

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on research and development in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12; and how much he plans to spend in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

Stephen Crabb: There was no spending on research and development between 2008-09 and 2011-12. The need for research is assessed on a case by case basis, and any future spend will be met from within the Department’s overall spending review settlement.

Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what media or public speaking training Ministers in his Department have received since May 2010.

David Jones: None.

PRIME MINISTER

Iraq: Military Intervention

George Galloway: To ask the Prime Minister what information he holds on which Ministers, legal advisers and officials were excluded from discussions on military action against Iraq.

David Cameron: The Iraq Inquiry's terms of reference cover consideration of the run-up to the conflict, including the way decisions were made and actions taken. The Inquiry has access to all information held by the Government relevant to the decision to take military action.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the oral statement of 18 July 2012, Official Report, column 643, on defence transformation, how many uniformed personnel were based in Scotland in each of the three armed services at the time of the statement.

Mark Francois: At the time of the statement in the House on 18 July 2011, Official Report, column 643, the number of uniformed personnel based in Scotland is estimated to have been as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			 Royal Navy 4,680 
			 Army 3,200 
			 RAF 4,030 
		
	
	These figures are correct as at 1 July 2011, and are rounded to the nearest 10.

Bahrain

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the names are of the people who participated in the 10 September 2012 delegation to Bahrain; and whether they participated in (a) an official, (b) an unofficial, (c) a private and (d) another capacity, specifying what the capacity was.

Philip Hammond: In addition to myself, the delegation consisted of one member of private office staff and a special adviser. General Simon Mayall also attended a number of meetings in his role as defence senior adviser middle east. All personnel visited Bahrain in an official capacity in support of Her Majesty Government’s policy for defence engagement and wider foreign policy.

Cyprus

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent providing bottled drinking water in the Sovereign Base Areas of (a) Akrotiri and (b) Dhekelia in the last 12 months.

Andrew Robathan: From 1 September 2011 to 31 August 2012, the British Forces Cyprus budget spent the following on bottled water:
	
		
			  € 
			 Western Sovereign Base Area (Akrotiri and Episkopi) 70,191 
			 Eastern Sovereign Base Area (Dhekelia) 4,146 
		
	
	The water was for use at decompression facilities, for in flight catering (flights transiting through Cyprus), and on exercises.

Defence Procurement

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which contracts his Department renegotiated in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; and what estimate he has made of the savings to his Department arising from each such contract renegotiation.

Philip Dunne: holding answer 7 September 2012
	I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 October 2012, Official Report, column 665W, to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Moor View (Alison Seabeck).

Defence Procurement

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any of his Department's procurement programmes have been delayed since publication of the Strategic Defence and Security Review; and what implications any such delay will have on the total projected costs of each programme.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 19 June 2012
	In-Service Dates for new equipment are formally set at the Main Gate investment approval point.
	Since the publication of the Strategic Defence and Security Review in October 2010, two new equipment procurement projects, which had previously passed their Main Gate approvals, have been delayed.
	Because the cost implications of delay to programmes is a matter of negotiation with contractors, disclosure of further information at this stage would prejudice the Department's commercial interests.

Defence Procurement

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  pursuant to the oral statement of 14 May 2012, Official Report, columns 261-4, on defence budget and transformation, which programmes have been ended in planning round 12;
	(2)  with reference to planning round 12, which projects which have been (a) cut and (b) deferred as a result of steps taken to balance his Department's budget.

Philip Hammond: In-Service Dates for new equipment are formally set at the Main Gate investment approval point. As a result of decisions taken in Planning Round 12, no major procurement project that had passed its Main Gate Investment Approval point has been ended and one has had its In-Service date deferred.
	I am withholding the details of the project concerned since their release would prejudice the Department's position in its negotiations with its suppliers.

NATO

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flights the UK has made under the NATO Strategic Airlift Interim Solution since December 2011; what the (a) total cost and (b) cost per flight has been; and which aircraft were used.

Philip Dunne: Between 1 January 2012 and 30 September 2012 the UK has chartered seven flights under the NATO Strategic Airlift Interim Solution (SALIS). A further flight is planned for 15 October 2012. The aircraft used for these flights is an Antonov An-124.
	Based on the relevant data held by the Department the cost incurred by the Ministry of Defence for drawing on the SALIS arrangement since 1 January 2012 is estimated to be £3.5 million. However, not all of the invoices have yet been received for the seven flights.
	Due to the pricing mechanism used by participating NATO countries for the SALIS arrangement it is not possible to offer meaningful information on the cost per flight.

Ministerial Visits: Nottinghamshire

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what ministerial visits to (a) the City of Nottingham and (b) Nottinghamshire have taken place since May 2010.

Philip Hammond: Nottinghamshire figures could be provided only at disproportionate cost, but figures for the East Midlands were provided on 3 September 2012, Official Report, columns 59-60W, to the right hon. Member for East Renfrewshire (Jim Murphy), and are shown as follows:
	
		
			 Since May 2010 to June 2012: East Midlands 
			  Number of visits 
			 Secretary of State 2 
			 Minister for the Armed Forces 3 
			 Minister for International Security Strategy 4 
			 Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology 1 
			 Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans 4 
			 Under-Secretary of State 1

Olympic Games 2012: Security

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel were deployed to provide security at the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, by unit; how many working days of their time this amounted to; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The number of armed forces personnel deployed to support the safety and security of the Olympic and Paralympic Games peaked at 18,700.
	The personnel came from a mixture of established units as well as individual augmentees. Units and elements of units involved in the operation are set out by service as follows:
	Royal Navy
	HMS Ocean
	HMS Bulwark
	RNAS Culdrose
	RNAS Yeovilton
	30 Commando Royal Marines
	43 Commando Royal Marines
	42 Commando Royal Marines
	45 Commando Royal Marines
	Commando Logistic Regiment
	24 Commando Engineer Regiment
	1 Assault Group Royal Marines
	539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines
	Fleet Diving Squadron
	RFA Mounts Bay
	HMS Blazer
	HMS Exploit
	HMS Express
	HMS Pursuer
	HMS Raider
	HMS Smiter
	HMS Tracker
	Royal Navy and Marine Reservists
	Army
	Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment
	1(st) The Queen's Dragoon Guards
	Queen's Royal Hussars
	Irish Guards
	The London Regiment
	3 Scots
	The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland)
	7 Scots
	3(rd) Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment
	1 The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment
	2 The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment
	3 The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment
	1(st) Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
	2(nd) Battalion The Mercian Regiment
	2(nd) Battalion The Parachute Regiment
	3(rd) Battalion The Parachute Regiment
	4(th) Battalion The Parachute Regiment
	1(st) Battalion The Rifles
	2(nd) Battalion The Rifles
	4(th) Battalion The Rifles
	5(th) Battalion The Rifles
	6(th) Battalion The Rifles
	The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery
	7(th) Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
	26(th) Regiment Royal Artillery
	12(th) Regiment Royal Artillery
	16(th) Regiment Royal Artillery
	100 Regiment Royal Artillery
	106 Regiment Royal Artillery
	23 Regiment Royal Engineers
	28 Regiment Royal Engineers
	35 Regiment Royal Engineers
	HQ 1 Signal Brigade
	1 (UK) Armoured Division Signal Regiment
	10 Signal Regiment
	39 Signal Regiment
	71 Signal Regiment
	HQ 101 Logistic Brigade
	HQ 104 Logistic Brigade
	13 Air Assault Support Regiment
	17 Port and Maritime Regiment
	150 Regt Royal Logistics Corps
	151 Regt Royal Logistics Corps
	152 Regt Royal Logistics Corps
	156 Regt Royal Logistics Corps
	27 Regt Royal Logistics Corp
	29 EOD and Search Group
	1 Military Working Dog Squadron
	11 EOD Regiment
	16 Air Assault Brigade HQ
	13 Air Assault Support Regiment
	Queen’s Own Yeomanry
	Composite Units to include: 13 Medical Regiment, 216 Signals Squadron and 156 Provost Company Royal Military Police
	4(th) Royal Army Medical Corps
	3(rd) Regiment Royal Military Police
	Royal Air Force
	Joint Force Air Component HQ
	1 Air Control Centre
	RAF Conningsby
	RAF Leuchars
	RAF Odiham
	RAF Benson
	RAF Northolt
	Queen's Colour Squadron RAF Regiment
	3 Force Protection Wing RAF Regiment
	5131 Bomb Disposal Squadron
	The total number of working days has not yet been finalised. However over the period of the Games, some 60 days, it is estimated to be of the order of 500,000 to 600,000 man-days. A breakdown by unit of the number of armed forces personnel deployed is not held centrally.

Research

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on research and development in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12; and how much he plans to spend in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

Philip Dunne: Ministry of Defence research and development (R and D) expenditure for financial years up to 2010-11 is published in “Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) Statistics 2012”, available at:
	Table 2.1
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/science/science-funding/set-stats
	The figures for net R and D spend across the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for the year 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11, inclusive of non-recoverable VAT at current prices, are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial year MOD research and development (£ million) 
			 2008-09 1,991 
			 2009-10 1,752 
			 2010-11 1,560 
		
	
	MOD R and D expenditure statistics are designated National Statistics status and as such the release of the figure for 2011-12 is embargoed until they are published for the first time by the Office for National Statistics in March 2013.
	There is no centralised budget for R and D because development expenditure is applied as needed against requirements of individual equipment programmes.

Reserve Forces

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilians employed by his Department are members of the reserves in each of the armed forces; and what proportion of the civilian workforce of his Department this represents.

Mark Francois: Civilian employees are encouraged to volunteer the information as to whether they are a reservist in their records, but this is not mandatory. It is estimated that there are about 500 reservists and, of those, we estimate that about 15% are Naval reserves, 73% are Army reserve and 12% are RAF reserves. The figure of 500 represents slightly less than 1% of the total civilian workforce.

Reserve Forces

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to encourage higher levels of participation in the reserve forces.

Mark Francois: An additional £1.8 billion is being invested in the reserve forces over the next 10 years to grow the trained strength of the reserves of all three services by 50% or more by 2018: the Royal Navy and Royal Marine Reserves to 3,100, the Territorial component of the Army Reserve to 30,000 and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force to 1,800. The Future Reserves 2020 (FR20) programme is on track to deliver the revised manning levels in 2018.
	The FR20 programme will include the engagement required to ensure the necessary levels of participation. For example, there will be a move to relationships with employers based on partnering.
	The Ministry of Defence will consult the public and employers on how to achieve our vision for the reserves, which includes the participation required of reservists. A formal public consultation, beginning in late October, will enable a better understanding of the needs and desires of employers and potential and existing reservists, and how they may best be balanced with the requirements of Defence on an enduring basis.

Trident

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Minister in his Department is responsible for the Trident Alternatives Review due to report in the autumn.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 10 September 2012
	I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by the hon. Member for North Devon (Sir Nick Harvey) on 26 March 2012, Official Report, column 957W, in which he stated that the Trident Alternatives Review is expected to report to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister at the end of the year.
	The Trident Alternatives Review continues to be led by the Cabinet Office, aims to assist the Liberal Democrats in assessing the case for any alternative systems that could maintain a credible nuclear deterrent at lower cost. Ministerial oversight will be provided by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Trident

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Minister in his Department is responsible for the review of the future of the UK nuclear deterrent.

Philip Hammond: There is no review being conducted on the future of the UK nuclear deterrent. The Government's policy remains as I set out on 18 June 2012, Official Report, column 611, that the Vanguard class submarines will be replaced at the end of their lives in the late 2020s/early 2030s by a successor submarine carrying the Trident missile, subject to main gate investment approval for the project in 2016.
	The Trident Alternatives Review being led by the Cabinet Office, aims to assist the Liberal Democrats in assessing the case for any alternative systems that could maintain a credible nuclear deterrent at lower cost. Ministerial oversight will be provided by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

World War II: Anniversaries

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to commemorate in 2014 the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the River Plate; and if he will consider funding a suitable memorial.

Mark Francois: It is Government policy not to fund memorials but a matter for the public and veterans associations to manage as they see fit. The Government are considering a number of commemorative events for both world war one and world war two.
	At present nothing specific is being planned for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Plate, although I would expect the event to be marked in someway, and this matter has already been discussed with the Royal Naval museum at Portsmouth.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to answer question 112716, on procurement, tabled on 14 June 2012 for named day answer on 19 June 2012.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 17 July 2012
	I replied to the right hon. Member today.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Pay

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many agricultural workers in each parliamentary constituency are covered by the provisions of the Agricultural Wages Board.

David Heath: The number of paid agricultural workers in each parliamentary constituency is shown in the following table. This includes salaried managers, regular workers, casual and gang workers.
	The numbers are based on 2010 data for the new parliamentary constituency boundaries and for commercial holdings with significant levels of farming activity. These significant levels are classified as any holding with more than 5 hectares of agricultural land, 1 hectare of orchards, 0.5 hectares of vegetables or 0.1 hectares of protected crops, or more than 10 cows, 50 pigs, 20 sheep, 20 goats or 1,000 poultry.
	
		
			 Parliamentary constituency Paid 
			 Aldershot * 
			 Aldridge-Brownhills 36 
			 Altrincham and Sale West 46 
			 Amber Valley 69 
			 Arundel and South Downs 1,300 
			 Ashfield 63 
			 Ashford 749 
			 Ashton-under-Lyne * 
			 Aylesbury 97 
			 Banbury 297 
			 Barnsley Central 12 
			 Barnsley East 54 
			 Barrow and Furness 108 
			 Basildon and Billericay 38 
			 Basingstoke 9 
			 Bassetlaw 425 
			 Bath * 
			 Batley and Spen 64 
			 Battersea * 
			 Beaconsfield 242 
			 Beckenham * 
			 Bedford 6 
			 Berwick-upon-Tweed 902 
			 Beverley and Holderness 1,040 
			 Bexhill and Battle 455 
			 Bexleyheath and Crayford 0 
			 Birkenhead * 
			 Birmingham, Edgbaston * 
			 Birmingham, Erdington * 
			 Birmingham, Ladywood 0 
			 Birmingham, Northfield * 
			 Birmingham, Yardley 0 
			 Bishop Auckland 308 
			 Blackburn 14 
			 Blackpool North and Cleveleys 0 
			 Blackpool South * 
			 Blaydon 47 
			 Blyth Valley 37 
			 Bognor Regis and Littlehampton 237 
			 Bolsover 134 
			 Bolton North East 21 
		
	
	
		
			 Bolton South East * 
			 Bolton West 36 
			 Boston and Skegness 1,829 
			 Bosworth 241 
			 Bournemouth East 16 
			 Bournemouth West * 
			 Bracknell 625 
			 Bradford East * 
			 Bradford South 26 
			 Bradford West 19 
			 Braintree 330 
			 Brent North * 
			 Brentford and Isleworth * 
			 Brentwood and Ongar 348 
			 Bridgwater and West Somerset 906 
			 Brigg and Goole 464 
			 Brighton, Kemptown 17 
			 Brighton, Pavilion * 
			 Bristol East 0 
			 Bristol North West * 
			 Bristol South * 
			 Bristol West * 
			 Broadland 1,047 
			 Bromley and Chislehurst 0 
			 Bromsgrove 133 
			 Broxbourne 63 
			 Broxtowe 25 
			 Buckingham 627 
			 Burnley 58 
			 Burton 242 
			 Bury North 20 
			 Bury South 26 
			 Bury St Edmunds 618 
			 Calder Valley 126 
			 Camborne and Redruth 276 
			 Cambridge * 
			 Cannock Chase 16 
			 Canterbury 1,424 
			 Carlisle 122 
			 Carshalton and Wallington * 
			 Castle Point 20 
			 Central Devon 1,080 
			 Central Suffolk and North Ipswich 869 
			 Charnwood 308 
			 Chatham and Aylesford 18 
			 Cheadle 63 
			 Chelmsford 54 
			 Chelsea and Fulham * 
			 Cheltenham 14 
			 Chesham and Amersham 129 
			 Chesterfield * 
			 Chichester 1,536 
			 Chingford and Woodford Green 0 
			 Chippenham 149 
			 Chipping Barnet * 
			 Chorley 236 
			 Christchurch 85 
			 Cities of London and Westminster * 
			 City of Chester 169 
			 City of Durham 97 
			 Clacton 111 
		
	
	
		
			 Cleethorpes 249 
			 Colchester * 
			 Colne Valley 109 
			 Congleton 267 
			 Copeland 510 
			 Corby 370 
			 Coventry North East * 
			 Coventry North West 28 
			 Coventry South 0 
			 Crawley * 
			 Crewe and Nantwich 136 
			 Croydon Central 0 
			 Croydon South * 
			 Dagenham and Rainham * 
			 Darlington * 
			 Dartford 191 
			 Daventry 439 
			 Denton and Reddish * 
			 Derby North * 
			 Derby South * 
			 Derbyshire Dales 680 
			 Devizes 718 
			 Dewsbury 82 
			 Don Valley 110 
			 Doncaster Central 19 
			 Doncaster North 141 
			 Dover 161 
			 Dudley North * 
			 Dudley South * 
			 Ealing North * 
			 Easington 55 
			 East Devon 344 
			 East Ham 0 
			 East Hampshire 478 
			 East Surrey 218 
			 East Worthing and Shoreham 27 
			 East Yorkshire 915 
			 Eastbourne 7 
			 Eastleigh 44 
			 Eddisbury 923 
			 Edmonton * 
			 Ellesmere Port and Neston 130 
			 Elmet and Rothwell 300 
			 Eltham * 
			 Enfield North 52 
			 Enfield, Southgate * 
			 Epping Forest 338 
			 Epsom and Ewell 16 
			 Erewash 22 
			 Esher and Walton 209 
			 Exeter * 
			 Fareham 339 
			 Faversham and Mid Kent 1,749 
			 Feltham and Heston * 
			 Filton and Bradley Stoke 22 
			 Finchley and Golders Green 0 
			 Folkestone and Hythe 336 
			 Forest of Dean 602 
			 Fylde 239 
			 Gainsborough 920 
			 Garston and Halewood 50 
			 Gateshead 0 
		
	
	
		
			 Gedling * 
			 Gillingham and Rainham * 
			 Gloucester * 
			 Gosport * 
			 Grantham and Stamford 418 
			 Gravesham 417 
			 Great Yarmouth 441 
			 Greenwich and Woolwich 0 
			 Guildford 158 
			 Hackney South and Shoreditch 0 
			 Halesowen and Rowley Regis * 
			 Halifax 16 
			 Haltemprice and Howden 727 
			 Halton * 
			 Harborough 206 
			 Harlow 588 
			 Harrogate and Knaresborough 124 
			 Harrow East 0 
			 Harrow West * 
			 Hartlepool 41 
			 Harwich and North Essex 735 
			 Hastings and Rye 185 
			 Havant 49 
			 Hayes and Harlington * 
			 Hazel Grove 22 
			 Hemel Hempstead 55 
			 Hemsworth 66 
			 Hendon * 
			 Henley 427 
			 Hereford and South Herefordshire 1,200 
			 Hertford and Stortford 99 
			 Hertsmere 108 
			 Hexham 629 
			 Heywood and Middleton 21 
			 High Peak 204 
			 Hitchin and Harpenden 159 
			 Hornchurch and Upminster 11 
			 Horsham 310 
			 Houghton and Sunderland South 13 
			 Hove * 
			 Huddersfield 32 
			 Huntingdon 156 
			 Hyndburn 47 
			 Ilford North * 
			 Ipswich 0 
			 Isle of Wight 1,009 
			 Islington South and Finsbury * 
			 Jarrow 16 
			 Keighley 59 
			 Kenilworth and Southam 516 
			 Kensington 0 
			 Kettering 127 
			 Kingston and Surbiton * 
			 Kingston upon Hull East * 
			 Kingston upon Hull North * 
			 Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle 0 
			 Kingswood 30 
			 Knowsley 18 
			 Lancaster and Fleetwood 364 
			 Leeds Central * 
		
	
	
		
			 Leeds East 30 
			 Leeds North East * 
			 Leeds North West 62 
			 Leeds West * 
			 Leicester East 0 
			 Leicester South * 
			 Leicester West * 
			 Leigh 35 
			 Lewes 382 
			 Lichfield 422 
			 Lincoln 37 
			 Liverpool, Walton * 
			 Liverpool, Wavertree * 
			 Liverpool, West Derby * 
			 Loughborough 48 
			 Louth and Horncastle 979 
			 Ludlow 1,192 
			 Luton North 0 
			 Luton South 21 
			 Macclesfield 211 
			 Maidenhead 127 
			 Maidstone and The Weald 973 
			 Makerfield 25 
			 Maldon 400 
			 Manchester Central * 
			 Mansfield 50 
			 Meon Valley 634 
			 Meriden 68 
			 Mid Bedfordshire 238 
			 Mid Derbyshire 54 
			 Mid Dorset and North Poole 86 
			 Mid Norfolk 1,001 
			 Mid Sussex 144 
			 Mid Worcestershire 979 
			 Middlesbrough * 
			 Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland 120 
			 Milton Keynes North 117 
			 Milton Keynes South * 
			 Mitcham and Morden 0 
			 Mole Valley 254 
			 Morecambe and Lunesdale 162 
			 Morley and Outwood 101 
			 New Forest East 519 
			 New Forest West 462 
			 Newark 577 
			 Newbury 397 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne East * 
			 Newcastle-under-Lyme 24 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne Central 53 
			 Newton Abbot 154 
			 Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford 35 
			 North Cornwall 809 
			 North Devon 682 
			 North Dorset 1,011 
			 North Durham 35 
			 North East Bedfordshire 461 
			 North East Cambridgeshire 1,377 
			 North East Derbyshire 126 
			 North East Hampshire 223 
			 North East Hertfordshire 370 
			 North East Somerset 245 
		
	
	
		
			 North Herefordshire 3,839 
			 North Norfolk 718 
			 North Shropshire 921 
			 North Somerset 216 
			 North Swindon 46 
			 North Thanet 141 
			 North Tyneside 11 
			 North Warwickshire 278 
			 North West Cambridgeshire 417 
			 North West Durham 232 
			 North West Hampshire 442 
			 North West Leicestershire 239 
			 North West Norfolk 795 
			 North Wiltshire 542 
			 Northampton North * 
			 Northampton South * 
			 Norwich North * 
			 Norwich South * 
			 Nottingham North * 
			 Nottingham South 0 
			 Nuneaton 39 
			 Old Bexley and Sidcup * 
			 Oldham East and Saddleworth 21 
			 Oldham West and Royton * 
			 Orpington 85 
			 Oxford East * 
			 Oxford West and Abingdon 52 
			 Pendle 75 
			 Penistone and Stocksbridge 162 
			 Penrith and The Border 1,122 
			 Peterborough 113 
			 Plymouth, Moor View 0 
			 Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport * 
			 Poole * 
			 Poplar and Limehouse * 
			 Portsmouth South 0 
			 Preston 0 
			 Pudsey 49 
			 Putney 0 
			 Rayleigh and Wickford 173 
			 Reading East * 
			 Reading West 10 
			 Redcar * 
			 Redditch 92 
			 Reigate 101 
			 Ribble Valley 423 
			 Richmond (Yorks) 1,287 
			 Richmond Park * 
			 Rochdale 12 
			 Rochester and Strood 312 
			 Rochford and Southend East 53 
			 Romford * 
			 Romsey and Southampton North 463 
			 Rossendale and Darwen 90 
			 Rother Valley 94 
			 Rotherham 13 
			 Rugby 215 
			 Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner 8 
			 Runnymede and Weybridge 63 
			 Rushcliffe 332 
			 Rutland and Melton 836 
		
	
	
		
			 Saffron Walden 496 
			 Salford and Eccles * 
			 Salisbury 361 
			 Scarborough and Whitby 352 
			 Scunthorpe 130 
			 Sedgefield 175 
			 Sefton Central 76 
			 Selby and Ainsty 1,064 
			 Sevenoaks 220 
			 Sheffield Central * 
			 Sheffield South East * 
			 Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough 0 
			 Sheffield, Hallam 85 
			 Sheffield, Heeley * 
			 Sherwood 580 
			 Shipley 65 
			 Shrewsbury and Atcham 606 
			 Sittingbourne and Sheppey 742 
			 Skipton and Ripon 1,058 
			 Sleaford and North Hykeham 980 
			 Slough * 
			 Solihull * 
			 Somerton and Frome 889 
			 South Basildon and East Thurrock 91 
			 South Cambridgeshire 535 
			 South Derbyshire 242 
			 South Dorset 228 
			 South East Cambridgeshire 892 
			 South East Cornwall 662 
			 South Holland and The Deepings 1,981 
			 South Leicestershire 287 
			 South Norfolk 801 
			 South Northamptonshire 419 
			 South Ribble 1,228 
			 South Shields * 
			 South Staffordshire 355 
			 South Suffolk 591 
			 South Swindon 71 
			 South Thanet 560 
			 South West Bedfordshire 52 
			 South West Devon 192 
			 South West Hertfordshire 124 
			 South West Norfolk 2,372 
			 South West Surrey 470 
			 South West Wiltshire 521 
			 Southampton, Test 0 
			 Southend West * 
			 Southport * 
			 Spelthorne 22 
			 St Albans 102 
			 St Austell and Newquay 253 
			 St Helens North 168 
			 St Helens South and Whiston 20 
			 St Ives 803 
			 Stafford 493 
			 Staffordshire Moorlands 398 
			 Stalybridge and Hyde 22 
			 Stevenage 13 
			 Stockport * 
			 Stockton North 34 
		
	
	
		
			 Stockton South 26 
			 Stoke-on-Trent Central * 
			 Stoke-on-Trent North * 
			 Stoke-on-Trent South * 
			 Stone 1,255 
			 Stourbridge * 
			 Stratford-on-Avon 1,551 
			 Stretford and Urmston 20 
			 Stroud 385 
			 Suffolk Coastal 918 
			 Sunderland Central * 
			 Surrey Heath 87 
			 Sutton and Cheam * 
			 Sutton Coldfield 12 
			 Tamworth 264 
			 Tatton 527 
			 Taunton Deane 660 
			 Telford * 
			 Tewkesbury 278 
			 The Cotswolds 903 
			 The Wrekin 703 
			 Thirsk and Malton 1,513 
			 Thornbury and Yate 379 
			 Thurrock * 
			 Tiverton and Honiton 859 
			 Tonbridge and Mailing 950 
			 Torbay * 
			 Torridge and West Devon 1,167 
			 Totnes 433 
			 Truro and Falmouth 372 
			 Tunbridge Wells 323 
			 Twickenham 0 
			 Tynemouth * 
			 Uxbridge and South Ruislip * 
			 Wakefield 42 
			 Wallasey * 
			 Walsall North 0 
			 Walsall South 8 
			 Wansbeck 55 
			 Wantage 397 
			 Warrington North 102 
			 Warrington South 46 
			 Warwick and Leamington 51 
			 Washington and Sunderland West 23 
			 Watford * 
			 Waveney 276 
			 Wealden 633 
			 Weaver Vale 171 
			 Wellingborough 106 
			 Wells 548 
			 Welwyn Hatfield 66 
			 Wentworth and Dearne 41 
			 West Bromwich East * 
			 West Bromwich West * 
			 West Dorset 933 
			 West Lancashire 515 
			 West Suffolk 906 
			 West Worcestershire 1,073 
			 Westmorland and Lonsdale 433 
			 Weston-Super-Mare 131 
			 Wigan 33 
		
	
	
		
			 Winchester 307 
			 Windsor 54 
			 Wirral South 33 
			 Wirral West 42 
			 Witham 541 
			 Witney 450 
			 Woking 39 
			 Wokingham 168 
			 Wolverhampton North East 0 
			 Wolverhampton South West * 
			 Worcester 0 
			 Workington 347 
			 Worsley and Eccles South 50 
			 Worthing West 20 
			 Wycombe 74 
			 Wyre and Preston North 415 
			 Wyre Forest 148 
			 Wythenshawe and Sale East * 
			 Yeovil 463 
			 York Central * 
			 York Outer 185 
			   
			 England total 122,692 
			 Note: Where figures relate to less than five holdings data are suppressed and replaced with an asterisk (*) to avoid disclosure of information about individual holdings. If only one item contributing to a total in a row or column has been suppressed then secondary suppression is required to preserve confidentiality of the initially suppressed item. Secondary suppression is applied to the item which relates to the second smallest number of holdings. Source: DEFRA Survey of Agriculture and Horticulture—June 2010

Air Pollution

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been awarded to each local authority in air quality grants in each of the last two years; and by what means the level of funding awarded to each local authority is determined.

Richard Benyon: Tables showing the local authorities in England that were awarded air quality grants in 2010-11 and 2011-12 have been placed in the House Library.
	We are currently assessing project bids for the 2012-13 allocation period. As in the previous year, priority for grant funding will be given to projects that propose tackling exceedences of the UK objectives and EU limit values for nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Eligibility has been limited to English local authorities with one or more air quality management areas for NO2 and those authorities where DEFRA's national air quality assessment in 2010, as reported to the European Commission, identified an exceedence in their area. Full details of the eligibility criteria are on DEFRA's website.
	DEFRA provided additional funding of £1.186 million for the 2011-12 programme because the original £2 million fund had been very heavily oversubscribed. £2 million has been provided for the 2012-13 programme. The allocations will be announced later this year.
	Local authorities that are successful in gaining this funding are required to provide DEFRA with a progress report to monitor the delivery and value for money of each project.

Beavers

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the reintroduction of beavers in the UK.

Richard Benyon: This is a devolved matter so I can only answer with regard to England. Currently the Government has no plans to re-introduce the European beaver to the wild in England.

Bisphenol A

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on cross-departmental discussions assessing the cancer risk of environmental exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals such as Bisphenol A.

David Heath: There is an active network of officials across UK Government who keep each other appraised of developments in the regulation of Bisphenol-A (BPA) specifically and endocrine disruption more generally. This group is also engaged at EU level.
	It is well established that BPA can disrupt the endocrine (hormone) system, but only extremely weakly. A recent, well designed study found no adverse effects in rats exposed to levels 4,000 times higher than the maximum exposure of human adults in the general population.
	BPA has been found not to produce significant carcinogenic responses in rats and mice. Further reassurance arises from BPA's tack of mutagenicity in relevant animal studies; substances that otherwise produce positive results in such tests are generally viewed as a carcinogenic threat to humans.
	In 2006, the European Food Standards Agency (EFSA) assessed the health impact of BPA and established a Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI), which is the amount that can be eaten every day, over a whole lifetime, without causing appreciable harm. The TDI is well above general levels of human consumption. A further Opinion by EFSA on BPA was published on 30 September 2010 and took into account more recent studies on possible BPA enhancement of breast cancer, but concluded that the existing TDI did not require adjustment.
	In the light of the EFSA assessment, we do not propose to limit further the use of BPA in non-food applications beyond current levels, which have been set following already rigorous risk assessment.
	BPA is registered under the EU REACH (registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals) regulation. According to REACH provisions, the German competent authority is already evaluating its registration with a view to deciding whether any more information or regulatory action is needed. We should know more about the outcome of this process early next year. While there is currently no reason to believe that robust evidence will arise requiring further controls on BPA, we remain alert to any evidence derived from this or other sources.

Cod

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the likely level of cod stocks in UK territorial waters over the next decade.

Richard Benyon: International Council for the Exploitation of the Seas fisheries scientists only make fish stock forecasts suitable for the setting of management quotas up to a maximum of two to three years in advance. Over longer time periods natural variation in the recruitment of young fish to the stock introduces significant uncertainty to the estimates. Forecasts are used to inform cod stock conservation policies and in the design of management objectives.
	DEFRA's overarching position is to follow scientific advice relating to setting catch limits and by doing so we expect cod stocks caught in UK territorial waters to recover to be within safe biological limits and achieve maximum sustainable yield for the stocks.

Cormorants

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what his policy is on protecting river fish stock from increased cormorant numbers;
	(2)  whether he has made an assessment of the potential effects on cormorant numbers of adding that bird to the general shooting licence;
	(3)  whether he has given consideration to adding cormorants to the general shooting licence.

Richard Benyon: Cormorants, like all wild birds, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Section 16 of the Act allows for licences to be issued in certain circumstances and for certain purposes, including the protection of livestock. If cormorants are causing or are likely to cause serious damage to inland fisheries, licences permitting fisheries managers to shoot a limited number of them to protect a fishery may be granted. Licences will only be issued where it can be shown non-lethal measures designed to address problem birds have failed to be effective. Most licences issued are for the purposes of enabling fishery owners to reinforce the effects of shooting to scare.
	DEFRA is carrying out a review of the current policy in relation to managing the impact of predation on inland fisheries from cormorants, goosanders and red-breasted mergansers. In the course of this review, officials are considering a range of options for managing the serious damage these birds can cause and will consider the impacts of using general licences along with the other options. The review is expected to report to Ministers this year. Once completed, the outcomes of the review will be made publicly available.

Ducks: Animal Welfare

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to improve the welfare of farmed ducks.

David Heath: The Government are committed to improved standards of welfare of all livestock. The welfare of ducks is provided for in the general provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007. DEFRA also has a duck welfare code which keepers are required by law to have access to and be familiar with, which encourages high standards of husbandry.
	DEFRA completed a three-year research project in 2007 to assess whether farmed ducks needed bathing water and if so, how it should be provided. The findings of this research were built on, with the RSPCA, academics and the duck industry, to look at how water could be provided to ducks in a commercial setting, whilst being mindful of the risk to biosecurity. DEFRA took an active part in the accompanying RSPCA ‘Higher Duck Welfare Programme' steering group. As a result of this collaborative approach, duck welfare standards have been raised as both the RSPCA's Freedom Foods scheme and the industry's own Duck Assurance Scheme have ensured that their standards reflect the latest research.
	DEFRA welcomes the availability of duck meat products reared to a range of standards which meet the law and allow consumers to make their own choice in purchasing.

Fisheries

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the implications for its policies of the findings of research into fish stocks in the North sea by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.

Richard Benyon: The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science conducts a wide range of research on fish stocks in the North sea. Findings from this research are used to inform UK fisheries conservation policies and feed into International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) advice on the health of fish stocks, which are in turn used to set catch limits to protect against overfishing.
	For example, ICES advice shows that there has been a gradual improvement in the status of the North sea cod stock over the last few years. The weight of mature cod (spawning stock biomass) has increased from its historical low in 2006 of 26.2 kt to 65.3 kt at the start of 2012. This equates to an estimated 21 million breeding mature cod in the North sea. Although the cod is still at low levels, it is positive news that this stock is gradually recovering.

Fishing Vessels

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to licence variations issued to the UK scalloping fleet limiting them to a prescribed number of 24 hour fishing days in Western Waters for quarter 1 and quarter 2 of 2012, how many and what proportion of vessels did not comply due to deploying excessive days beyond those permitted in each such quarter; and how many non-compliant vessels in each such quarter (a) were contacted directly by fisheries administrations and (b) have had (i) administrative or (ii) other action taken against them.

Richard Benyon: In quarter one 2012, 23 (32%) active vessels in that quarter overfished their allocation of effort days. In quarter two 2012, 3 (5%) active vessels in that quarter overfished their allocation.
	Administrations will be contacting vessels that have overfished with a view to taking administrative action in the final quarter of 2012.

Fishing Vessels: Decommissioning

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is his policy to seek voluntary decommission of fishing vessels in the North Sea.

Richard Benyon: There are currently no plans to seek voluntary decommissioning of fishing vessels in the North sea.

Health: EU Law

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the effect on (a) life expectancy and (b) premature deaths avoided of action taken to implement the EU Incineration of Waste Directive and associated amendments (i) in total and (ii) in each region since it came into force; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: Some assessment at a national level of the general benefits to health of the EU Waste Incineration Directive was included in an impact assessment prepared at the time the directive was finalised in 2000.
	The Health Protection Agency has reviewed research undertaken to examine the suggested links between emissions from municipal waste incinerators and effects on health. While it is not possible to rule out adverse health effects from modern, well regulated municipal waste incinerators with complete certainty, any potential damage to the health of those living close-by is likely to be very small, if detectable. This view is based on detailed assessments of the effects of air pollutants on health and on the fact that modem and well managed municipal waste incinerators make only a very small contribution to local concentrations of air pollutants.

Medical Equipment: Waste Disposal

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the classification for the purpose of waste disposal of colostomy and urostomy bags; whether such items can be disposed of as waste; and what steps he is taking to ensure local authorities comply with his policy on disposal of such items.

Richard Benyon: The exact classification of colostomy and urostomy bags depends on their nature. Under the controlled waste (England and Wales) regulations 2012, they may fall within the definition of ‘clinical waste', ‘offensive waste', or ‘household waste' under section 75(5) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
	In a domestic situation, colostomy and urostomy bags would normally be classified as ‘offensive' waste from health care related activities, rather than ‘clinical waste'.
	A domestic household can discard small quantities of offensive waste in their domestic refuse. It is recommended practice, to aid subsequent management and disposal, that larger quantities are segregated for collection. This should be arranged with the local authority. The same principle would apply for the patient's place of work.
	These bags would only be considered ‘clinical waste' where a health care worker had identified a specific risk from that individual patient, such as a risk of infection. ‘Clinical waste' is subject to additional controls that typically involve more stringent packaging, transportation and documentary tracking requirements followed by either incineration or disinfection (e.g. by autoclave).
	We believe it is best for local authorities, working with their residents, to decide how to run local waste services. Any dissatisfaction with local authority services should be taken up with that authority. Failure by a local authority to fulfil its statutory duties may be taken up with the local government ombudsman.

Milk: Prices

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the recent price reduction by milk processors on the dairy industry with the Groceries Supply Code of Practice.

David Heath: The Groceries Supply Code of Practice covers relationships between supermarkets and their direct dairy suppliers. However, key contractual arrangements and pricing policies between milk processors and dairy farmers will be addressed by the dairy industry's new code of practice, which includes arrangements for evaluation and review.

Miriam Maes

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers in his Department have met Miriam Maes on official business since May 2010.

Richard Benyon: According to core DEFRA records, no Ministers or special advisers in the Department have met Miriam Maes on official business since May 2010. Information on official level meetings cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.

Natural Resources

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the proposals in the Gaborone Declaration on valuing natural capital.

Richard Benyon: The Gaborone Declaration sets out 10 African countries' commitment to respond to the issues of environmental destruction and climate change. It places emphasis on natural capital accounting as a complement to GDP and corporate performance statistics.
	The independent Natural Capital Committee has been established to provide advice on the state of English natural capital and in particular to advise the Government on: (i), when, where and how natural assets are being used unsustainably; (ii), how it should prioritise action to protect and improve natural capital, so that public and private activity is focused where it will have greatest impact on improving wellbeing in our society; and (iii), research priorities to improve future advice and decisions on protecting and enhancing natural capital.
	The Government have committed to put natural capital at the heart of government accounting and the Office for National Statistics has recently published a consultation, ‘Accounting for the value of nature in the UK', to help achieve this. The Natural Capital Committee is working with the Office for National Statistics in developing methodologies for accounting for natural capital.

Nature Conservation

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the European Commission legislative proposal on invasive alien species.

Richard Benyon: We are expecting the European Commission to publish its proposed EU directive on invasive alien species later this year. Until its publication, we will not know its precise content. However, given the serious ecological, environmental and economic impacts that invasive alien species are causing, and their potential to spread across the EU naturally or via the single market, member states' Governments have repeatedly called on the Commission to develop a strategy that would create a stronger framework for collective action in the EU to tackle this issue.
	Proposals for a new EU Strategy on Invasive Alien Species have been in development for some considerable time. The UK's objective has been, and will continue to be, to ensure that what results is helpful, justified, practical and proportionate.
	As well as the proposal itself, the Commission is required to produce an accompanying impact assessment. We will of course be scrutinising this to ensure it is rigorous and comprehensive.

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the Royal Association of Dairy Farmers' request that due to summer rainfall and the effect on slurry storage there should be a national derogation for the upcoming nitrate vulnerable zone closed spreading periods.

David Heath: Rainfall this summer has been much greater than normal, and the five months from April to August were the wettest in England and Wales since records began in 1910. This has made conditions for spreading slurry difficult on many farms. In addition, many animals have been kept indoors for significantly longer than usual because of the poor ground conditions, resulting in further slurry accumulation.
	The closed period rules which apply in nitrate vulnerable zones are set out in the Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2008, as amended. We do not consider that a national derogation from the closed period rules would be appropriate.
	However, the Government has asked the Environment Agency to take particular account of certain matters when deciding whether enforcement action under those regulations would be appropriate during the first two weeks of the closed period as it applies to heavier land. (The closed period is 1-15 October for tillage land and 15-31 October for grassland; “heavier land” is land which is not sandy or shallow as defined in the regulations). In brief, those matters are the impact of the exceptional weather on individual farms and, in light of that, whether farmers have complied with the relevant rules and followed good practice. We have also asked the Environment Agency to take account of these matters when deciding what action should be taken when a breach of the regulations concerning the closed period is identified. The full policy statement is available on the DEFRA website.
	The Environment Agency seeks to enforce the regulations in all cases in a proportionate way, taking into account all the circumstances of each case. Where the impact of the exceptional weather has been demonstrably detrimental to the individual farmer's ability to spread slurry and the factors set out in the statement apply, the Environment Agency will be in a better position to give credit to the farmer when it comes to deciding whether, in all the circumstances, enforcement action is justified and appropriate.
	The Government will keep this matter under review.

Ministerial Visits: Nottinghamshire

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what ministerial visits to (a) the City of Nottingham and (b) Nottinghamshire have taken place since May 2010.

Richard Benyon: The following visits to the (a) City of Nottingham and (b) Nottinghamshire have taken place since May 2010:
	
		
			 Minister Visited Date of visit Purpose of visit 
			 Owen Paterson City of Nottingham 13 September 2012 Flood defence visit 
			 Lord Taylor City of Nottingham 2 March 2012 Fact-finding visit ‘Love Where You Live' campaign

Child Care

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many child care places his Department provides on its estate; what the cost is of providing such places; how many such places his Department provided in 2010; what the cost was of providing such places in 2010; what plans he has for changes in the provision of such child care places; and what the number of places will be once any such changes have been implemented.

Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA currently provides the full-time equivalent (FTE) of 44 nursery places, which are taken up on a full or part-time basis. Costs for the 2012-13 financial year are not available. Costs for the previous two financial years are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  2010-11 2011-12 
			 Number of FTE places available 44 44 
			 Number of children from core DEFRA employees filling places on full and/or part-time basis 45 48 
			 Cost to core DEFRA (£) 91,469 68,273 
		
	
	Costs to core DEFRA have reduced since 2010 due to withdrawal of a subsidy for new entrants to the nursery. Core DEFRA only incurs costs for the remaining subsidised nursery places.
	Additionally, in 2010-11, core DEFRA provided for six nursery places off-site at a cost of £7,863. In 2011-12, core DEFRA provided for one place off-site at a cost of £996. This facility was withdrawn due to lack of demand.
	There is a planned review of the strategy for child care in 2013.

Palm Oil

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the prohibition on the first placing of unsustainable palm oil on the EU market.

Richard Benyon: I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him of 19 June 2012, Official Report, column 858W. As explained, we have no plans to prevent the placing on the market of unsustainable palm oil. The Government is however supporting a number of positive initiatives to encourage United Kingdom users and the wider market to move to sustainably sourced palm oil.

Plants

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the European Commission proposal for a new plant health law.

David Heath: The UK was instrumental in securing a review of the EU plant health regime which has remained largely unchanged since its introduction at the start of the Single Market. In partnership with key stakeholders the UK has been active in influencing the Commission's approach with key objectives being:
	faster decision-making as plant health risks change and new pests arrive;
	better risk targeting and a shift of inspection effort from plant produce to plants and propagating material (including addressing threats from new and emerging trades);
	more co-operation between plant health inspectorates across the EU.
	The Commission's formal proposals for a new plant health law are expected early next year.

Pollution: EU Law

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the effect on (a) life expectancy and (b) premature deaths avoided of action taken to implement the EU Ambient Air Quality Directive and associated amendments (i) in total and (ii) in each region since it came into force; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The 2008 Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC) consolidated the 1996 Air Quality Framework Directive and three, subsequent ‘daughter' directives into a single directive. It introduced several new provisions, including the possibility of additional time to meet certain limit values. The fourth ‘daughter' directive, adopted in 2004, is expected to be consolidated at a later date. Many of the health based standards set out in the 2008 directive were adopted over 10 years ago. Detailed estimates are not available of the effects of the legislation on life expectancy and premature deaths avoided since its adoption.
	An assessment made in 2010, using 2008 data, estimated the average reduction in life expectancy due to exposure to fine particulate matter to be six months. The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution (COMEAP) estimated that this burden can also be expressed as being equivalent to 29,000 deaths per year, assuming particulate matter concentrations do not change. However, COMEAP considers it very unlikely that this represents the number of individuals affected or that air pollution affects everyone equally. Instead it speculates that air pollution, acting together with other factors, may have made some smaller contribution to all cardiovascular deaths in the UK; that is, the earlier deaths of up to 200,000 people per year.
	The mortality effect associated with particulate air pollution is now an indicator in the Government's Public Health Outcomes Framework for England. COMEAP recently published a statement recommending simplified methods for estimating the mortality effects of particulate air pollution on a local scale. These estimates are expected to be useful in future in communicating the importance of the effects of air pollution on public health.

Research

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on research and development in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12; and how much he plans to spend in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA’s research and development (R and D) spend since 2008-09 is summarised in the following table.
	
		
			  Spend (£ million) 
			 2008-09 128 
			 2009-10 120 
			 2010-11 105 
			 2011-12 109 
		
	
	Core DEFRA has allocated £106 million for R and D in 2012-13, but has not yet finalised allocations for R and D budgets in 2013-14 or 2014-15.
	These figures include work commissioned by core DEFRA from its laboratory agencies, namely the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science; the Food and Environment Research Agency and the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency.

Seas and Oceans: Pollution

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effects on the marine and coastal environment of plastics that have been dumped at sea.

Richard Benyon: Charting Progress 2 (CP2), the 2010 comprehensive report on the state of UK seas, summarises the information available on the sources and effects of litter, including plastics. Around 15% of UK beach litter, including lost fishing gear and litter from containers lost at sea, is thought to originate at sea from fishing and shipping. The effects of plastic litter can include harm to wildlife from entanglement or ingestion of plastics.
	Since 2010, DEFRA and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture (CEFAS), the Government's foremost source of evidence on the marine environment, have continued work to improve understanding of marine litter. This includes a current research project that has updated some information in CP2 and aims to develop a standardised UK monitoring programme. CEFAS is also contributing to MARLISCO (Marine Litter in Europe Seas: Social Awareness and Co-responsibility), an EU research programme on societal changes on litter and it will be taking part in an EU project on effects and distributions of micro plastics.

Sky Lanterns

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department plans to take to reduce the dangers to animals, crops and property arising from the release of sky lanterns.

David Heath: The Government is aware of concerns about the impacts of sky lanterns on animals, crops and property and has taken steps to raise public awareness about the potential dangers sky lanterns pose, and to encourage people to think carefully before using them. We will continue to look for further opportunities to do this over the coming months, especially as we approach bonfire night.
	In order to assess the extent of the dangers posed by sky lanterns and possible steps to address such dangers, DEFRA proposes to commission an independent study to examine in detail the scale of the risks associated with the use of sky lanterns, and their impact on livestock, plants and the environment. The results of this study will help inform any future Government action.

Sustainable Development

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to review the Government's policies to ensure such policies are consistent with the Government's vision for sustainable development.

David Heath: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Minister for Government Policy have lead responsibility for the commitment to mainstream sustainable development in Government. Both are members of the Home and Economic Affairs Committees that deal with domestic policy.
	Departments' business plans include commitments relating to sustainable development. Each Department is responsible for deciding how it will implement its sustainable development commitments. Progress is monitored through a regular review process led by the Minister of State for Government Policy and supported by DEFRA.

Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what media or public speaking training Ministers in his Department have received since May 2010.

Richard Benyon: Lord Taylor, the then Under-Secretary of State in the Lords, received internal media training on 27 October 2011 and 29 February 2012.
	No other Ministers in the Department have received media or public speaking training since May 2010.

Veterinary Medicine

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of the veterinary surgeons that work for the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency were trained (a) in the UK and (b) abroad.

David Heath: Of the 302 veterinary surgeons that work for the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency:
	(a) 230 studied in the UK, and;
	(b) 72 studied abroad.
	The data were obtained on 11 October 2012 from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons register, which holds the details about the background and training of individual vets.

Veterinary Medicine

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many veterinary surgeons are employed by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency.

David Heath: As of August 2012, based on subscriptions to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, 302 vets are employed by Animal Health Veterinary Laboratory Agency.

Veterinary Medicine: Antibiotics

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what information his Department holds on levels of use of (a) fluoroquinolones and (b) 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins by vets;
	(2)  what guidance his Department provides to vets on the desirability of limiting the use of (a) fluoroquinolones and (b) 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins.

David Heath: For the past 14 years, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has collected, collated and published figures on UK sales volumes of active antimicrobial ingredients in authorised veterinary medicinal products.
	There is no central record of the use of antimicrobials in animals in the UK. However, it is reasonable to assume that there is a direct relationship between the reported quantities of products sold and those used in the UK in the species indicated:
	The report published for 2010 shows that there were 1.4 tonnes of 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins sold (0.3% of the total 447 of antimicrobials tonnes sold) and 2.2 tonnes of fluoroquinolones sold (0.5% of the total 447 tonnes of antimicrobials sold).
	These reports can be found at:
	http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/fsf/antimicrobial_pubs.aspx
	The Government have long promoted the responsible use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine and has produced publications such as a Code of Practice on the Responsible Use of Medicines on the Farm and a leaflet on antimicrobials, available on the Veterinary Medicines Directorate's website:
	http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/vet/antimicrobial_pubs.aspx
	The Government work closely with the farming industry, the veterinary profession and the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture (RUMA) Alliance. RUMA has produced, various sector specific publications and guidance all of which can be found on the RUMA website. RUMA's most recent publication is a poster on responsible use of antibiotics available at:
	http://www.ruma.org.uk/images/EPRUMA%20poster.JPG
	In addition, the British Veterinary Association has produced a poster on the responsible use of antimicrobials for veterinary practices, available at:
	http://www.bva.co.uk/public/documents/BVA_Antimicrobials_Poster.PDF

CABINET OFFICE

Census

John Spellar: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he intends to conduct a review of the 2011 census and make proposals for the format of the next census.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) which has responsibility for the Census, I have been asked to reply to your recent question to the Minister for the Cabinet Office asking when he intends to conduct a review of the 2011 Census and proposals for the format of the next census. (122064)
	An ONS review of the 2011 Census in England and Wales is already in progress and a number of evaluations were published on the ONS website on 16 July. Further evaluations will be published as they become available. A General Report of the 2011 Census will be published by March 2014. In addition, the National Audit Office has recently conducted its own review of the 2011 Census and is expected to publish a report shortly.
	At this stage it is too early to know whether or not there will be another Census in England and Wales. All the signs are that the 2011 Census in England and Wales has been a great success. Nonetheless in common with many other countries there are concerns that a census is becoming increasingly costly and difficult to carry out. A more mobile population and the increasingly complex ways in which people live are making the process of census taking more and more challenging. There may also be opportunities to produce statistics in other ways, for example by using data about the population that government already holds.
	ONS established the Beyond 2011 Programme on 1st April 2011 to assess options for meeting future user needs for population and small area socio-demographic statistics in England and Wales. During the first phase, which runs from 2011 to 2014, the programme will assess users' requirements and consider the best way of meeting these needs. The options under consideration include full or partial use of linked data from existing government administrative sources, the use of an address register with surveys, a short-form census with continuous surveys, and the retention of a traditional census.
	Users of census statistics will be consulted before any recommendation is made. A report setting out the recommendation arising from the first phase of the programme will be published in 2014.

Civil Servants: Training

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil servants in each Government department have enrolled in the Major Projects Leadership Academy since February 2012.

Chloe Smith: This Government established a Major Projects Leadership Academy (MPLA) as a unique world class development programme to transform the delivery of major projects in the public sector. We are confident that this will dramatically improve the performance of Government's largest and most complex projects. This is in striking contrast to the track record of the previous administration's handling of the major projects portfolio.
	Since its launch earlier this year, the MPLA programme is on track to bring back world class project leadership capability to Whitehall. The number of participants per Department so far are:
	
		
			 Department Total number 
			 CO 3 
			 BIS 3 
			 DCLG 2 
			 DCMS 1 
			 DFE 3 
			 DEFRA 2 
			 DFT 5 
			 DWP 2 
			 DECC 4 
			 DH 4 
			 FCO 1 
			 HMRC 4 
			 HO 4 
			 MOD 8 
			 MOJ 4 
			 NAO 1 
			 ONS 2 
			 NI 1 
			 Scottish Government 1 
			 Welsh Government 1 
			 ODA 1 
			 Total 57 
		
	
	We are on track to ensure (as per the Civil Service Reform Plan) that all senior project leaders across Government have commenced training through the Major Projects Leadership Academy by Q4 2012.

Employment: North East

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the net change was in the number of private sector jobs in (a) the Tees Valley, (b) the North East, (c) Middlesbrough, (d) Redcar constituency, (e) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency, (f) Stockton North constituency, (g) Stockton South constituency, (h) Hartlepool constituency and (i) Darlington constituency from May 2010 to the latest date for which figures are available in 2012.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated September 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the net change in private sector jobs was in (a) the Tees Valley, (b) the North East, (c) Middlesbrough, (d) Redcar constituency, (e) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency, (f) Stockton North constituency, (g) Stockton South constituency, (h) Hartlepool constituency and (i) Darlington constituency from May 2010 to the latest period for which figures are available. (121214)
	Estimates of private sector jobs are not available. As an alternative in table 1, we have provided net change in private sector employment in the North East from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and returns from public sector organisations between June 2010 and June 2012 the latest available period.
	As data from the LFS and returns from public sector organisations is only available at regional level, in Table 2, we have provided the net changes in private sector employment from the Annual Population Survey (APS) in (a) the Tees Valley, (b) the North East, (c) Middlesbrough, (d) Redcar constituency, (e) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency, (f) Stockton North constituency, (g) Stockton South constituency, (h) Hartlepool constituency and (i) Darlington constituency between the 12 month periods ending in December 2010 and March 2012 the latest available period.
	Estimates for May 2010 are not available as public sector returns are collected quarterly (March, June, Sept, Dec).
	Individuals in the APS are classified to the public or private sector according to their responses to the survey.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS and the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the APS estimates is given in table 2.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			 Table 1: Net change in private sector employment between June 2010 and June 2012 
			 Thousand 
			  June 2010 June 2012 Net change 
			 North East 841 877 36 
			 Note: Estimated as the difference between LFS total employment and the data from public sector organisations. Source: Labour Force Survey and returns from public sector organisations. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Net change in private sector employment between December 2010 and March 2012 
			 Thousand 
			  12 months ending:  
			  December 2010 March 2012 Net change 
			 North East 793 *796 3 
			 Tees Valley 198 **195 -3 
			 Middlesbrough 39 **37 -2 
			 Redcar 24 **23 -1 
			 Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland 27 **29 2 
			 Stockton North 29 **26 -3 
			 Stockton South 34 **34 0 
			 Hartlepool 26 **25 -1 
			 Darlington 27 **29 2 
			 Note: Coefficients of Variation have been calculated tor the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Key: * 0 ≤ CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV <10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: Annual Population Survey.

Employment: Surrey

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were employed by small and medium-sized businesses in (a) Woking constituency and (b) Surrey in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated September 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many people were employed by small and medium-sized businesses in (a) Woking constituency and (b) Surrey in the latest period for which figures are available.
	Annual statistics on the number of employees are available from the ONS release Business Register Employment Survey (BRES) at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk
	However, it is not possible to derive a breakdown by employment size band from BRES. The table contains the latest statistics available, which show the number of employees in Woking and Surrey for 2010.
	
		
			 Area Number of employees 
			 Surrey 509,000 
			 Woking 45,000 
			 Note: These figures are aggregates from which farm agriculture (SIC class 0100) have been excluded.

Former Ministers

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost to the public purse is of resettlement payments made to former Ministers of each Department who have left the Government since 4 September 2012; and which former Ministers who left the Government after 4 September 2012 have been recommended to receive an honour.

Francis Maude: As was the case under previous Governments, the rules on severance payments are set out in the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991. Under this legislation, Ministers leaving office are entitled to receive three months' worth of severance pay which is based on their annual ministerial salary.
	The Prime Minister will recommend to the Queen that my right hon. Friend the Member for North West Hampshire (Sir George Young) be appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour. The Prime Minister has also recommended to The Queen that knighthoods be conferred upon the following:
	James Paice MP
	Edward Garnier QC MP
	Nick Harvey MP
	Gerald Howarth MP.

Government Departments: Assets

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what Government freehold assets have been sold to private purchasers since 2010; and what Government freehold assets have been identified for future sale to private purchasers.

Chloe Smith: Specific information about the purchasers of Government assets is not collected centrally.

Government Departments: Electric Cables

Chris Williamson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the volume of counterfeit or falsely marked electrical cabling that is installed in Government buildings.

Francis Maude: There have been no recorded instances of counterfeit or falsely marked electrical cabling installed into Cabinet Office buildings.

Government Departments: Procurement

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2012, Official Report, column 118W, on Government departments: procurement, which government departments are yet to eliminate the use of pre-qualification questionnaires for procurements below £100,000; and when they expect to do so.

Chloe Smith: The use of pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQs) for procurements below £100,000 has been eliminated in all central Government Departments except the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence; these Departments have additional security requirements to consider.
	The Minister for the Cabinet Office has granted exemptions to the FCO and the MOD to use PQQs in below threshold procurement where it is necessary to withhold information from suppliers who do not meet minimum selection criteria due to the performance of the contract being secret, accompanied by special security measures, and/or when the protection of personnel or the special interests of the United Kingdom warrant it. The exemption also applies, for defence goods, works or services, where the impact of military-technical or safety risks is disproportionately high compared to the value of the requirement.
	For procurements where PQQs are still required we issued a simplified, standardised pre-qualification questionnaire in 2010. This was updated in February 2012 to reflect changes as a result of the Bribery Act. It is available for any public body to use.
	If suppliers come across overly bureaucratic PQQs they can report them to our ‘Mystery Shopper' service.

Government Departments: Property

Andrew Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what savings to the public purse have been made on the Government's property estate since May 2010.

Francis Maude: I refer my hon. Friend to the annual State of the Estate report, which I laid before the House on 23 May 2012.

Internet: North West

Helen Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate he has made of the number of (a) individuals and (b) households in (i) the North West, (ii) Warrington and (iii) Warrington North constituency, who do not use the internet.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated September 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what estimate has been made of the number of (a) individuals and (b) households in (i) the North West, (ii) Warrington and (iii) Warrington North constituency, who do not use the internet.
	Estimates of Internet use by adults aged 16 years and over are published quarterly by the Office for National Statistics and are available on the Office for National Statistics website. These estimates are derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and have coverage of the United Kingdom (UK). The latest available estimate (in respect of Q2 2012) of the number of adults in the North West who have never used the Internet is 886,000. Estimates are not available for Warrington in isolation or the Warrington North constituency. However, the number of adults in the Halton and Warrington area who have never used the Internet is 31,000. Halton and Warrington is an area defined by the Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics (NUTS), which is a hierarchical classification of administrative areas used across the European Union for statistical purposes.
	Estimates of household Internet access are published on an annual basis by the Office for National Statistics and are also available on the Office for National Statistics website. These estimates are derived from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, and are available by region, but for Great Britain only. The latest available estimate (in respect of 2012) of the number of households in the North West without Internet access is 693,000. It is not possible, from this survey, to produce reliable estimates of household Internet access at a small area level.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people over the age of 25 claiming jobseeker's allowance have never been in employment of any kind.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated September 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people aged over the age of 25 years claiming jobseeker's allowance have never been in employment of any kind. (121986).
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles Jobseeker's Allowance data from the Jobcentre Plus Administrative system. Unfortunately, data on whether an individual has ever been in employment are not collected by this system.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and JSA count are available on the Nomis website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Jobseeker's Allowance

Andrew Percy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many citizens from other EU member states claimed jobseeker's allowance in each of the last five years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated September 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many citizens from other EU states claimed Jobseeker's Allowance in each of the last 5 years. (122048).
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles Jobseeker's Allowance data from the Jobcentre Plus Administrative system. Unfortunately, data on citizenship is not collected by this system.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and JSA count are available on the Nomis website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Lobbying

Angela Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  whether it is the Government's intention that any future legislative proposal on lobbying will exempt meetings between a member of the House and his or her constituents;
	(2)  whether it is his policy that the cost of a statutory register of lobbyists should be met from the public purse or by the lobbying industry;
	(3)  whether he has estimated the cost of a statutory register of lobbyists;
	(4)  what progress his Department has made in drafting legislation to create a statutory register of lobbyists; and when he intends to bring forward legislative proposals on this matter;
	(5)  whether it is his policy that an independent body should be set up to run and monitor any statutory register of lobbyists.

Chloe Smith: The consultation document “Introducing a Statutory Register of Lobbyists” was published to gather evidence from experts in the field and members of the public. The consultation closed on 20 April 2012 and we will respond in due course after reviewing the responses we received.
	Responses to the Government's consultation generally endorsed the Government's clear view that the interaction between a constituent and their MP should not be classified as a form of lobbying.
	The Government's consultation proposed funding by the industry itself, through registration fees. We are reviewing the responses we received on this question.
	The Government's consultation proposed that any register should be run by a body independent of Government and the industry. We are reviewing the responses we received on this question.

Manufacturing Industries: Woking

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many manufacturing firms are registered in Woking constituency.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated September 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many manufacturing firms are registered in Woking constituency.
	Annual statistics on the number of enterprises are available from the ONS release UK Business: Activity, Size and Location at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk
	The table contains the latest statistic available, which shows the count of enterprises classified to manufacturing in Woking constituency for 2011.
	
		
			  Number 
			 Manufacturing enterprises in the parliamentary constituency of Woking as at March 2011 170 
			 Note: The above figures have been rounded to avoid disclosure

Miriam Maes

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what the (a) terms of reference, (b) evidence examined, (c) length of time and (d) findings were of the examination by the Cabinet Secretary of Miriam Maes' employment by the Department of Energy and Climate Change;
	(2)  for what reason the Cabinet Secretary investigated the publication of emails between Miriam Maes and the Minister of State for Climate Change;
	(3)  whether the Cabinet Secretary investigated any putative breach of the Ministerial Code by the Minister for Climate Change as part of his investigation into the release of emails between Miriam Maes and (a) Ministers and (b) officials in the Department for Energy and Climate Change.

Nick Hurd: holding answer 18 September 2012
	Requests under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act are handled in accordance with the provisions of the legislation. As was the case under previous administrations, it is not unusual for the Cabinet Secretary to be involved in the handling of requests.

Morecambe and Lunesdale: Funding

David Morris: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what funding his Department has allocated to Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency since 2010.

Francis Maude: As was the situation under previous Administrations, the Cabinet Office accounts do not break down funding by constituency.

Olympic Games 2012: Voluntary Work

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to offer London 2012 Olympics volunteers further opportunities to get involved in their local communities and national events.

Nick Hurd: The Government are keen to use the momentum created by the Olympic and Paralympic Games to encourage even more people to continue volunteering. We are in discussion with LOCOG about how to best keep the London 2012 volunteers engaged. We are backing frontline organisations to support existing and new volunteering opportunities, as well as investing in infrastructure and reducing bureaucracy to better connect volunteers to local and national opportunities.

Procurement

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of prime contractors who have contracts with central Government have failed to honour the commitment to pay their sub-contractors within the agreed 30-day period in each region of the UK in the last year for which figures are available.

Chloe Smith: Departments are required to monitor prime contractors' performance against a 30 day commitment to pay sub contractors as part of the contract management process, but this information is not collected centrally.
	We are also encouraging prime and sub-contractors to use the ‘Mystery Shopper' service to report to Government instances where prompt payment is not happening; and we regularly publish investigated cases on the Cabinet Office website:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/mystery-shopper-results

Public Sector: Procurement

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he has taken to enable small and medium-sized enterprises to create consortiums or other similar vehicles for the purpose of tendering for public procurement projects.

Chloe Smith: The Government recognises the vital role that small firms have to play in helping it to achieve the best possible value for money when it buys goods and services, both as sole bidders and when they work together in consortia. In 2011, a 100% SME consortium, Creative Choice, successfully competed to win a Government marketing and communications contract, providing us savings of 25%, worth £11 million.
	I have asked the SME Panel to work with the Cabinet Office to pilot approaches to make it easier for SMEs to form consortia to successfully win Government business. Guidance is currently being drafted and will be published later this year.

Public Sector: Procurement

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to reduce or remove barriers to small and medium-sized enterprises when they formulate tender processes, contract frameworks or procurement strategies for procurement related to public sector organisations.

Francis Maude: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Gloucester (Richard Graham) and for Waveney (Peter Aldous), on 7 September 2012, Official Report, column 505W.

Recruitment

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office to what extent his Department and the public bodies and agencies for which he is responsible used name-blank or anonymised sifting of applications to recruit staff in the last year for which information is available.

Francis Maude: holding answer 18 September 2012
	I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 20 June 2012, Official Report, column 1074W.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Armenia

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to mark the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the UK and the Republic of Armenia.

David Lidington: The anniversary of 20 years of diplomatic relations between the UK and Armenia was one of the reasons why I decided to visit Armenia on 17-19 September. The current state of bilateral relations between the UK and Armenia is good, but it could be developed further. I particularly see opportunities to develop our commercial relationship, as Armenia works towards further modernisation and reform of its economy, where there are a number of mutually beneficial opportunities, for example, in the mining industry. I am also very supportive of the plans to take a trade mission of British companies to Armenia (and Georgia) in November this year.
	Not only does this year mark 20 years of diplomatic relations, but also 10 years of the British Council in Armenia. This year saw a record number of Armenian students coming to study in the United Kingdom.

Arms Trade

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for Government decisions on arms sales to countries in the Middle East and North Africa of recent insecurity in that region.

Alistair Burt: The UK maintains a rigorous and transparent arms export control system. All applications are assessed on a case by case basis against the Consolidated European Union and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking account of the end use and circumstances prevailing at the time. This includes an assessment of the impact each proposed arms export could have on regional peace, security and stability, as well as the risk of it being used for internal repression.

Azerbaijan

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of Azerbaijan on President Aliyev's decision to pardon convicted murderer Ramil Safarov.

David Lidington: The UK Government have not held any discussions with the Azerbaijani authorities regarding the pardon of Ramil Safarov. However, as stated in my previous answer of 17 September 2012, Official Report, column 467W, we have supported EU and Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) statements on the case. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs raised the issue with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister when they visited Baku on 3 September. Our main concern is to ensure that tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan are not increased as a result of this incident, and to encourage both sides to exercise restraint to prevent any escalation of the situation.

Bahamas

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Government of the Bahamas on tackling maritime piracy.

Alistair Burt: The UK continues to work closely with the US, EU and local law enforcement agencies to disrupt drug trafficking routes from Latin America and the Caribbean to Europe and the UK, through increased maritime security patrols in Caribbean and Bahamian waters.
	The Bahamas are a valued member of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, an international forum to facilitate the discussion and coordination of actions among states and organisations to suppress piracy off the coast of Somalia, in which the UK plays a leading role.

Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made an assessment of the recent reports by Physicians for Human Rights entitled Weaponising Tear Gas and Under the Gun: Ongoing Assaults on Bahrain's Health System; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has seen the report referred to. We have expressed our concern about the continuing violence on the streets of Bahrain many times. This includes the excessive use of tear gas and we have urged the security forces to show maximum restraint when dealing with protests. Legitimate and peaceful demonstrations are an integral part of any democratic society, but we have also seen an increase in political street violence directed against the security forces, including the use of Molotov cocktails and nail bombs. We call on all sides to renounce violence, and to peacefully follow the rule of law in all circumstances.

Caribbean

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the governments of Haiti and the Dominican Republic on security in areas along the international border between those two states.

Hugo Swire: Our ambassador to the Dominican Republic (also accredited to Haiti) has periodic discussions with the Governments of the Dominican Republic and Haiti on security issues, including on the international border between the two countries. In September, he discussed with the Dominican Minister for the Armed Forces security on the border.
	The UK is also a major financial contributor to MINUSTAH, the UN stabilisation mission in Haiti, which plays an important role in ensuring security on the Haitian side of the border.

Georgia

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what assistance his Department is providing to help ensure free and fair elections in Georgia;
	(2)  how many officials from his Department will assist with election monitoring in Georgia during the forthcoming elections.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not have a dedicated research and development fund. Research in the FCO is primarily undertaken by FCO research analysts, who provide analysis and advice to Departments. Research is also conducted by individual directorates, departments and posts and funded from devolved budgets. Information relating to expenditure on research is difficult to identify with any certainty and, as potentially relevant data are not held centrally, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Haiti

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what technical assistance his Department is offering to the President and government of Haiti in the field of building capacity for good government and democratic accountability.

Hugo Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is not currently offering any direct technical assistance to the President and Government of Haiti in the field of building capacity for good government and democratic accountability. However, the UK is a significant contributor to the EU and World Bank programmes in Haiti, both of which address issues of governance and accountability. The UK is also a major financial contributor to MINUSTAH, the UN stabilisation mission, which also supports governance and democratic accountability in Haiti.

Iran

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to discourage the oppression of the Baha'i community in Semnan, Iran.

Alistair Burt: I refer my hon. Friend to my answers of 6 September 2012, Official Report, column 419W and 6 September 2012, Official Report, column 420W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff North (Jonathan Evans).

Maldives

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to visit the Maldives in an official capacity.

Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs does not have any current plans to visit Maldives in an official capacity.

Middle East

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on the treatment of Christians in the middle east.

Alistair Burt: Freedom of religion in the middle east is an issue raised frequently by parliamentarians and our contacts in the region.
	In the last six months alone the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has also responded to over two hundred letters from members of the public and Members of Parliament regarding religious freedom in the Arab world, specifically the treatment of Christians.
	On 10 July, I addressed a reception organised by Open Doors, a Christian non- governmental organisation (NGO) on religious freedom in the Arab world and on 19 September I met a representative of another NGO to discuss the Government's policy on religious freedom. In June, a Christian NGO also contacted the FCO regarding the treatment of a group of Ethiopian Christians in Saudi Arabia.

Middle East

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  on how many occasions in the last 10 weeks he has discussed with (a) his Israeli and (b) American counterpart a possible armed attack by Israel on Iran; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he last discussed with representatives of other member states of the European Union a possible armed attack by Israel on Iran; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers, senior officials and I discuss Iran regularly with our American and Israeli counterparts.
	We have made it clear to Israel, as the US has done, that a real chance should be given to the approach we have adopted to the Iranian nuclear issue: serious economic sanctions, diplomatic pressure and negotiations with Iran. While we have made clear that all options remain on the table, we are not advocating military action in the current circumstances.

Ministerial Duties

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the definition is of the office of Senior Minister of State in his Department.

William Hague: Baroness Warsi's responsibilities in both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Communities and Local Government will be set out in the Cabinet Office publication, List of Ministerial Responsibilities, which will be published in due course.

Miriam Maes

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers in his Department have met Miriam Maes on official business since May 2010.

David Lidington: There is no record of Ministers or special advisers having met Miriam Maes on official business since May 2010.
	Information about officials is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Nagorno-Karabakh

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to support a mediated solution between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the disputed province of Nagorno-Karabakh under the auspices of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Minsk Group.

David Lidington: The British Government support the work of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) Minsk Group peace process and regularly encourage the Azerbaijani and Armenian Governments to accelerate efforts to achieve a negotiated settlement. I personally discussed this with the Armenian President and Foreign Minister while in Yerevan on 18 September and with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister in April this year. The Prime Minister also raised it with the Azerbaijani President in August.
	As well as high level support, we continue to sponsor and organise events and projects to bring together different aspects of Armenian and Azerbaijani civil society, who currently have no contacts at all, to meet and work on joint projects to aid reconciliation and build bridges across the conflict divide. Given the difficulties people from the two countries have to meet and engage, we hope that our projects have made and will continue to make a difference in fostering positive community relations and countering negative stereotypes. We believe these civil society contacts can contribute to laying the foundations on which political reconciliation could take place and a sustainable resolution to the conflict found.

Nagorno-Karabakh

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on recent tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the disputed province of Nagorno-Karabakh; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: The UK is concerned that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unresolved and is a source of regional instability. The longer the conflict remains unresolved, the greater the loss of life on the Line of Contact and the more difficult a settlement could become.
	We share the concerns of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) Minsk Group about the impact that the handling of the Ramil Safarov case may have on prospects for peace in the region. It is important however, that moving forward, both sides exercise restraint—in both actions and public statements—to prevent any escalation of the situation.

North Africa

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on the treatment of Christians in north Africa.

Alistair Burt: Freedom of religion in north Africa is an issue raised frequently by parliamentarians and our contacts in the region.
	In the last six months alone the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has also responded to over two hundred letters from members of the public and Members of Parliament regarding religious freedom in the Arab world, including north Africa, and more specifically the treatment of Christians.
	On 10 July, I addressed a reception organised by Open Doors, a Christian non-governmental organisation (NGO), on religious freedom in the Arab world and on 19 September I met a representative of another NGO to discuss the Government's policy on religious freedom. Officials also discussed religious freedom in Egypt and Libya with a Christian NGO in July and August.

Ministerial Visits: Nottinghamshire

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what ministerial visits to (a) the City of Nottingham and (b) Nottinghamshire have taken place since May 2010.

David Lidington: None.

Nurseries

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many childcare places his Department provides on its estate; what the cost is of providing such places; how many such places his Department provided in 2010; what the cost was of providing such places in 2010; what plans he has for changes in the provision of such childcare places; and what the number of places will be once any such changes have been implemented.

Alistair Burt: There are two nurseries on the FCO Estate. One is in Hanslope Park, near Milton Keynes, and is operated by FCO Services, the other is in central London and operated by the FCO.
	There are 50 places available at the Hanslope Park site and 46 places available at the London site.
	The net cost of providing the places at the Hanslope Park nursery in 2010-11 was £35,860 after receipt of fees paid by staff.
	The net cost of providing the places at the London nursery in 2010-11 was £74,166 after the receipt of fees paid by staff.
	The capacity of the Hanslope Park nursery was increased in 2006 from 25 to 50 places when it moved to new purpose built premises. There are no plans to further increase the capacity.
	The capacity of the London Nursery was increased in 2008 from 36 places to 46 places. There are no plans to further increase the capacity.
	The nursery helps the FCO and FCO Services recruit and retain staff especially those who might otherwise not return after maternity leave.
	For many staff, the availability of high-quality, reliable child care (full or part-time) is one of the most important factors in them being able to return to work and/or choosing to work in a particular location and for a given employer.
	FCO and FCO Services recognise this and over the past decade have continuously improved the quantity and quality of child care provided by our nurseries.

Pakistan

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to address adverse treatment of Christians in Pakistan.

Alistair Burt: The Government raise the issue of the persecution of religious minorities on a regular basis with the authorities in Pakistan. Following the arrest of Rimsha Masih, a Christian girl arrested under the blasphemy laws, I spoke to Dr. Paul Bhatti, the Pakistani Minister for Interfaith Harmony, to lodge our concerns about the treatment of Christians and religious minorities in Pakistan, and to discuss recent shocking examples of religious persecution. I am pleased that Rimsha has now been released on bail.
	This month Baroness Warsi also raised our concerns about the treatment of religious minorities with the Chief Minister of Punjab during his visit to London. In February Baroness Warsi raised the issue of religious persecution and the blasphemy laws with the Foreign Minister of Pakistan during her visit to London.

Pay

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the highest paid position is in (a) his Department and (b) his Department's agencies.

Alistair Burt: The highest paid positions are
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)—Permanent Under-Secretary
	FCO Services—Chief Executive
	Wilton Park—Chief Executive
	Pay for senior appointments is governed by strict Cabinet Office guidelines which the FCO and her agencies follow.
	The information requested is a matter of public record appearing in the Annual Reports and Accounts and in transparency disclosures. Latest details can be found on
	www.data.gov.uk

Research

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on research and development in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12; and how much he plans to spend in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not have a dedicated Research and Development fund. Research in the FCO is primarily undertaken by FCO Research Analysts, who provide analysis and advice to Departments. Research is also conducted by individual directorates, Departments and posts and funded from devolved budgets. Information relating to expenditure on research is difficult to identify with any certainly and, as potentially relevant data are not held centrally, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Rwanda

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Development on the restoration of international aid to Rwanda.

Mark Simmonds: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has discussed Rwanda with my right hon. Friend the recently appointed Secretary of State for International Development. Officials from the two Departments work closely together, both in the UK and overseas on this important issue. We remain very concerned by the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and continue to monitor it closely.

Rwanda

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to monitor the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda following the restoration of international aid to Rwanda.

Mark Simmonds: The UK continues to monitor the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo closely through our diplomatic Posts in Kinshasa, Kigali and Goma, and through the UN, including the Group of Experts. We welcome the current lull in fighting. But we remain very concerned by continuing reports of Rwandan support for the M23 rebels, by the humanitarian situation, and by reports that the M23 rebels are setting up a parallel administration, and are committing human rights abuses.

Sri Lanka

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Sri Lankan Government's National Plan of Action to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission; and what recent representations he has made to the Government of Sri Lanka on ensuring accountability for human rights violations and reforms to promote reconciliation.

Alistair Burt: We continue to have concerns about human rights in Sri Lanka including political violence and intimidation of the media. We have urged the Sri Lanka Government to make progress in implementing the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) resolution. Sri Lanka's July 2012 Action Plan on implementing the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission recommendations fulfils one of the Council's requests. We look to Sri Lanka to implement the Action Plan and to address other elements of the resolution including alleged violations of international law.
	We look forward to actively contributing to Sri Lanka's Universal Periodic Review at the HRC in November. In that context, the UK made clear in a statement on 17 September 2012 to the HRC that we continued to monitor developments in Sri Lanka and looked forward to a visit to the country by the high commissioner for human rights.
	The Prime Minister emphasised the need for accountability and reconciliation most recently in a short discussion with President Rajapaksa at the Commonwealth Secretary General's lunch on 6 June 2012. The Foreign Secretary made the same points when he met the Sri Lankan Minister for External Affairs on 6 June.

Sri Lanka

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.

Alistair Burt: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 18 September 2012, Official Report, column 544W.

Sri Lanka

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the National Action Plan to implement the recommendations of the lessons learnt in Reconciliation Commission issued by the government of Sri Lanka.

Alistair Burt: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 18 September 2012, Official Report, column 544W.

Sri Lanka

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Tamil asylum seekers deported by the UK Border Agency since May 2010 he estimates have been the victims of torture by Sri Lankan security services after their deportation from the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is aware of allegations of deported asylum seekers being tortured in Sri Lanka. We take all allegations of torture and mistreatment very seriously. However on the basis of allegations raised with the FCO we have not been able to identify any individuals as having been deported to Sri Lanka from the UK since 2010 and subsequently tortured. The FCO follows the human rights situation in Sri Lanka and contributes to the country information which the UK Border Agency (UKBA) uses when making asylum decisions. All asylum decisions are carefully considered on their merits and returns to Sri Lanka are only undertaken when UKBA are satisfied that the individual has no international protection needs.

Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what media or public speaking training Ministers in his Department have received since May 2010.

David Lidington: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for North West Norfolk (Mr Bellingham), to the hon. Member for Makerfield (Yvonne Fovargue), on 16 July 2012, Official Report, column 569W. No further training has been undertaken since then.

Venezuela

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on the arrangements for international observation of the forthcoming elections in Venezuela; and whether UK observers will be present as part of (a) a separate UK group and (b) an EU mission.

Hugo Swire: There was no full observer mission covering the campaign or the presidential elections in Venezuela, which took place on 7 October. The Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE) invited representatives from the Union of South American Nations to accompany them in the period immediately around the elections. The CNE and political parties also invited individuals from a number of international political groups and NGOs.
	The EU was not invited by the Venezuelan election authorities to send an observation mission, but we, and EU partners, followed events closely on the ground.

TREASURY

Air Passenger Duty

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when his Department expects to publish its research on the effects of air passenger duty;
	(2)  what conclusions his Department has drawn from its assessment of air passenger duty; and when those conclusions will be published in full.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research his Department has conducted on the effects of the increase in air passenger duty on (a) Newcastle and Durham Tees Valley airports and (b) other regional airports.

Sajid Javid: HMRC has commissioned research on the effect that differential prices at UK airports could have upon the overall demand for aviation and upon passengers' choice of airport.
	A full report on the findings of the research will be published on HMRC's website in due course.

Air Passenger Duty

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what his policy is on air passenger duty; whether he plans to change that policy; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much has been paid in air passenger duty on UK domestic flights from Northern Ireland in each of the last four years.

Sajid Javid: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 5 September 2012, Official Report, column 343W.
	Revenue figures for air passenger duty (APD) are collected for the UK as a whole and are not broken down by devolved region. Information on APD revenues from domestic flights is not available, because HM Revenue and Customs does not collect information on the contribution to APD revenues made from flights to specific countries. APD revenues and passenger numbers are available online at:
	https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/TaxAndDuty Bulletins.aspx

Alcoholic Drinks: Prices

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  pursuant to the oral answer by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Lincoln of 11 September 2012, Official Report, column 125, on beer duty, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for (a) Health, (b) Scotland and (c) the Home Department regarding the setting of a minimum unit price for alcohol;
	(2)  what discussions have taken place between his Department and the Scottish Government regarding minimum unit pricing of alcohol.

Sajid Javid: holding answer 17 September 2012
	Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. The cross-Government Alcohol Strategy was published in March 2012. This included a commitment to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol alongside other key measures to reduce the harms caused by excessive alcohol consumption. Government Departments continue to engage on these issues in advance of a Government consultation on the alcohol strategy in the autumn. The Government continue to engage with the Scottish Government on the issue of minimum unit pricing.

Art Works

Kevan Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what works of art each of the Ministers in his Department have on display in their offices; and how much they are valued at.

Sajid Javid: The works of art in the Ministers’ offices are on loan from the Government Art Collection. Information about the works on loan to HM Treasury has been deposited in the Library of the House. Details of the artwork in each ministerial office are not provided publicly for security reasons.
	It is not possible to give an accurate estimate of the value of the works as they do not have a current market valuation.

Business: Government Assistance

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2012, Official Report, column 672W, on business: government assistance, what funds are being allocated under the Business Finance Partnership by stage of allocation;
	(2)  what proportion of the funding allocated under the Business Finance Partnership has been drawn down by end recipients.

Greg Clark: holding answer 17 September 2012
	£1.2 billion has been allocated to the Business Finance Partnership. HM Treasury will be investing £700 million this autumn in funds that lend to mid-sized businesses, following the receipt of bids earlier in the year and subsequent due diligence to select the strongest candidates. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will invest a further £100 million in non-traditional lending channels such as peer-to-peer lenders and supply chain finance, also this autumn. Bidding for the remaining £400 million closed in July and assessment of these bids is currently under way.

Child Tax Credit

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families received the child element of the child tax credit in Woking constituency in each of the last three years.

David Gauke: This information is published in the HMRC publication “Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics Finalised annual awards. Geographical analysis”. Information for the last three years available can be found here:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/final-award-geog.htm
	The last three years available are 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. In the publications for each of these years, the average number of families who received the child element of child tax credit (CTC) in the Woking constituency can be found in table 3. The total number receiving the child element is found by summing the number of out-of-work families with the number of in-work families with children receiving either both working tax credit (WTC) and CTC, or CTC in excess of the family element.
	For convenience, these figures have been reproduced in the following table.
	
		
			 Average number of families benefiting from the child element of CTC 
			 Thousand 
			   In-work families with children  
			  Total out-of-work families Receiving WTC and CTC Receiving CTC only, more than the family element Total families benefiting from the child element of CTC 
			 2010-11 1.4 2.1 0.9 4.4 
			 2009-10 1.4 1.9 0.9 4.2 
			 2008-09 1.3 1.8 0.8 4.0 
			 Note: Totals may not sum due to rounding.

Child Care

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the potential savings which would arise from reduced expenditure on childcare costs following the extension of the disadvantaged two-year-old offer to 40 per cent of two-year-olds; and whether he plans to use these savings to extend entitlement to childcare through the benefits and tax credits system.

David Gauke: This information is not available.

Construction: Self-employed

David Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the number of people who are falsely self-employed in the construction industry; and what methodology he has used to reach this estimate.

David Gauke: Please see my answer of 27 June 2012, Official Report, column 309W, to a similar question
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm120627/text/120627w0003.htm#12062779000435
	Paragraphs 2.6 and 2.7 and page 6 of Annex A of the consultation document mentioned in my answer set out the methodology behind the estimate.

Economic and Monetary Union

Guy Opperman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the financial situation in the eurozone on the UK economy.

Greg Clark: holding answer 18 September 2012
	As set out in Budget 2012, the euro area crisis poses a significant downside risk to the UK. According to the OECD:
	“economies both inside and outside the OECD area have been adversely affected by the euro area crisis through trade and confidence channels.”
	As the Prime Minister said on 17 May, whatever path the euro area takes the Government are prepared to do:
	“whatever is necessary to protect this country and secure our economy and financial system.”

EDF Group

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Suffolk Coastal of 11 September 2012, Official Report, columns 133-34, on nuclear power, what matters were discussed in the meeting with EDF; and what decisions were taken at the meeting.

Sajid Javid: This was an introductory meeting. Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings and discussions with a wide variety of organisations as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on implementation of the Equitable Life Compensation Scheme; what proportion of Equitable Life policy-holders are eligible for compensation; how many and what proportion of those eligible for compensation have received payments; what his most recent estimate is of the date by which all those eligible will have received compensation; and if he will make a statement.

Sajid Javid: The scheme published a detailed progress report in July 2012 which can be found online at:
	http://equitablelifepaymentscheme.independent.gov.uk/pressfaq/news.htm
	The scheme will continue to make payments until it closes in April 2014.

Finance Act 2008

Maria Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what representations his Department has received from those affected by the retrospective implementation of section 58 of the Finance Act 2008; and what meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department had with representatives of those affected by section 58 of the Finance Act 2008 in the last 12 months;
	(2)  if he will commission a review of the effect of section 58 of the Finance Act 2008; and if he will place a copy of any such review in the Library;
	(3)  how much HM Revenue and Customs has collected through the retrospective application of section 58 of the Finance Act 2008 in the last 12 months; and how much HM Revenue and Customs expects to collect from the retrospective application of section 58 of the Finance Act 2008 in the next 12 months.

David Gauke: Representations regarding section 58 of the Finance Act 2008 have been received from users of the wholly artificial tax avoidance scheme affected by section 58 seeking repeal of either its retrospective element or the section as a whole.
	No meetings have been held with the scheme's users or their representatives in the last 12 months beyond those with HMRC relating to individual inquiries.
	A new clause proposing a review of the implementation and impact of section 58 was introduced during the passage of this year's Finance Act but the clause was withdrawn after debate. The Government explained our position during that debate and have no plans to commission a review.
	UK residents are taxable on their worldwide income wherever it arises, including situations where it arises by way of foreign partnerships. Section 58 of the Finance Act 2008 was enacted to help put that beyond doubt. As section 58 retrospectively clarified existing legislation, its introduction had no affect on any taxpayer’s tax position.

Infrastructure (Financial Assistance) Bill

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will request an assessment from the Office for Budget Responsibility on the potential effects of implementation of the provisions of the Infrastructure (Financial Assistance) Bill on levels of (a) employment, (b) under-employment, (c) average hours worked, (d) real wages, (e) productivity, (f) business investment and (g) gross domestic product growth in each of the next three financial years.

Danny Alexander: The decision to award a guarantee under the Infrastructure (Financial Assistance) Bill will take appropriate account of the impact on the UK economy, including forecasts from the Office of Budgetary Responsibility, as part of the wider value for money assessment of a project, adhering to Managing Public Money principles.

Insolvency

Nick de Bois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many winding up orders HM Revenue and Customs applied for on behalf of (a) public limited companies, (b) sole traders and (c) partnerships in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) 2009, (iv) 2010 and (v) 2011;
	(2)  how many (a) public limited companies, (b) sole traders and (c) partnerships HM Revenue and Customs placed into administration in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) 2009, (iv) 2010 and (v) 2011.

David Gauke: holding answer 17 September 2012
	The figures for England and Wales(1) are:
	
		
			  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 (a) Companies (including PLCs)      
			 Petitions filed 5,978 4,128 3,656 3,268 4,897 
			 Orders obtained 3,164 2,902 2,342 1,965 2,349 
			       
			 (b) and (c) Individual and partnerships      
			 Petitions filed 6,753 6,478 5,184 4,002 4,618 
			 Orders obtained 3,964 3,939 4,330 2,867 3,023 
			 (1) England and Wales figures show figures of petitions filed where HMRC had had a first hearing. Some petitions are filed but never get to hearing; this information is not available and could be researched only at disproportionate cost. 
		
	
	The figures for Scotland are:
	
		
			  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 (a) Companies (including PLCs)(1)      
			 Petitions lodged 264 352 292 577 834 
			 Liquidations awarded 168 214 182 407 574 
			       
			 (b) and (c) Individual and partnerships(2)      
			 Sequestrations lodged 1,595 1,261 1,359 989 913 
			 Sequestrations awarded 1,100 888 843 671 535 
			 (1) The figures include limited companies and public limited companies; HMRC does not have figures which distinguish between the two. (2) HMRC does not have figures which distinguish between sole traders and partnerships. Where there is a partnership, one petition is lodged which includes the firm and the partners. 
		
	
	In Northern Ireland HMRC uses the Crown Solicitor’s Office to handle these cases. The Crown Solicitor's Office provided these figures and it does not hold any data prior to February 2010.
	
		
			  Companies Individuals and partnerships 
			 2011 224 492 
			 2010 205 (1)423 
			 (1) Figures For February to December 2010. 
		
	
	HM Revenue and Customs did not place into administration any (a) public limited companies, (b) sole traders or (c) partnerships for the years in question.

Insolvency

Ian Paisley Jnr: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a person in an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) who is awarded a payment protection insurance compensation payment whilst in the IVA which is subsequently included in their IVA by HM Revenue and Customs as a creditor is liable to pay the tax due on that payment.

David Gauke: Generally no tax is due on the repayment element of compensation paid to those mis-sold PPI. However, the additional interest is taxable. Any unpaid tax on payment protection insurance (PPI) interest for the year of approval or earlier will be claimed and compromised within the individual voluntary arrangement (IVA). Any tax due on PPI interest for post voluntary arrangement years will be payable to HMRC on the due date.

Iran

John Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to introducing a temporary lifting of the prohibition on financial transfers by aid agencies to Iran subject to their obtaining a special licence.

Greg Clark: Under EU sanctions in place against Iran it is already possible for transfers of funds to be made to Iran where the transfer relates to a humanitarian activity or purpose.
	In addition, humanitarian transfers between UK credit or financial institutions and Iranian banks are permitted under domestic restrictions where a licence has been issued by HM Treasury.
	Following the earthquakes in Iran, HM Treasury published a notice to draw attention to these provisions:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/fin_sanc_iran_ notice_humanitarian_payments_170812.pdf

Child Care

Owen Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many child care places his Department provides on its estate; what the cost is of providing such places; how many such places his Department provided in 2010; what the cost was of providing such places in 2010; what plans he has for changes in the provision of such child care places; and what the number of places will be once any such changes have been implemented.

Sajid Javid: HM Treasury does not currently offer places for child care on a full-time daily basis at its estate at 1 Horse Guards Road. However, it does provide a holiday play scheme which runs six times a year and has a maximum number of 18 places available each time it is held. These places are also available to some of the other tenants in the building as well as other Departments in Whitehall. The play scheme has been running for a number of years at a cost of up to £5,000 each year. There are no plans to change the number of places offered.

Office for Budget Responsibility

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when officials in his Department last met the Office for Budget Responsibility.

Sajid Javid: Officials from HM Treasury meet officials from the Office for Budget Responsibility on a regular and ongoing basis.

Pay

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the highest paid position is in (a) his Department and (b) his Department's agencies.

Sajid Javid: The highest paid positions at HM Treasury are currently:
	(a) in the Department, the Head of Assurance of Infrastructure UK (IUK); and
	(b) in the Department's agencies, the Chief Executive of the Debt Management Office.

Regulation

Simon Kirby: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect the reduction of red tape is having on the economy; and what legislative plans he has to further reduce regulation to encourage growth.

Michael Fallon: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The fourth Statement of New Regulation, published in July 2012, reports on the first two years of application of the Government's one-in, one-out rule to new domestic regulation
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/better-regulation/docs/o/12-p96b-one-in-one-out-fourth-statement-new-regulation.pdf
	Copies of the Statement have been deposited in both Libraries of the House.
	The Statement shows that the Government's one-in, one-out rule has resulted in an overall reduction in the net cost to business and civil society organisations approaching £850 million.
	Recent examples of savings to business which came into force on the 1 October 2012 include:
	removing regulatory burdens from hundreds of venues, including pubs and clubs, making it easier for them to stage live music; and
	giving over 100,00 more small businesses the flexibility to decide whether or not their company accounts should be audited. The regulations also allow companies that prepare their accounts under International Financial Reporting Standards to move to UK GAPP and take advantage of reduced disclosures.
	The Government are continuing to take radical action on red tape to boost growth and jobs in the economy by systematically examining some 6,500 substantive regulations we inherited, through the Red Tape Challenge process. The Government have committed to abolish or substantially reduce at least 3,000 of these regulations. We will complete the identification of the regulations to be scrapped or overhauled by December 2013.
	Commitments made through the Red Tape Challenge so far include:
	plans to scrap or reduce 85% of health & safety regulations, including:
	legislation next month to ensure that businesses will only be held liable for civil damages in health and safety cases if they can be shown to have acted negligently;
	binding new rules on both the Health and Safety Executive and on Local Authorities to, from April 2013, exempt hundreds of thousands of low risk businesses from health & safety inspections;
	a radical package of employment tribunal reforms, expected to deliver £40 million of savings per year to employers. The qualifying period for unfair dismissal has already increased from one to two years; and
	a portable Criminal Records Bureau check, which employers can view instantly online, will be available from Spring 2013.

Research

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses claimed research and development funding in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12.

David Gauke: The numbers of companies claiming Research & Development tax credits for financial years up to 2010-11 are published on the HM Revenue & Customs website at
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/rd-numberofclaims.pdf

Research and Development Tax Credit: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies in Peterborough constituency have claimed research and development tax credits for small and medium-sized enterprises in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: This information is not available. The latest statistics on research and development tax credits are available on the HMRC website and include regional analysis of the SME scheme based on where companies are registered. The link to these statistics is provided at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/randdtcmenu.htm

Revenue and Customs

Nick de Bois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pieces of correspondence HM Revenue and Customs received from hon. Members did not receive a response for (a) three months, (b) four months, (c) five months, (d) six months and (e) longer than 12 months in (i) 2009, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2011.

David Gauke: HMRC is aware of the importance that Ministers and Members of Parliament attach to this issue and is running a project to improve the handling of ministerial correspondence. The Department has put in place new processes, including more focused management information from July 2011.
	The data HMRC hold from July 2011 to December 2011, for letters directed to HMRC for reply, are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Number of months from receipt of letter until reply issued Number of cases 
			 Under three months 2,857 
			 3 months to 4 months 129 
			 4 months to 5 months 39 
			 5 months to 6 months 13 
			 6 months to 7 months 3 
			 Over 7 months 1 
			 Total number of letters received 3,042 
		
	
	Almost 94% of letters were answered within three months.
	Prior to this, information was collected in a database used to track the progress of all complaints correspondence. Interrogating this database shows that we dealt with 99% of letters within three months, but there may be some under-recording of this information due to the overall volume of correspondence received. The information from HMRC's complaints handling database is shown as follows.
	
		
			 Number of months from receipt of letter until reply issued 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Under three months 9,559 9,776 11,405 
			 3 months to 4 months 38 18 62 
			 4 months to 5 months 12 6 18 
			 5 months to 6 months 4 2 3 
			 6 months to 7 months 6 3 5 
			 Over 7 months 2 2 1 
			 Total number of letters received 9,621 9,807 11,494

Sovereignty: Scotland

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Government on the continuation of currency union in the event of Scottish independence.

Danny Alexander: There have been no such discussions between HM Treasury and the Scottish Government.

Stocks and Shares

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an assessment of how position limits for the derivative markets could be used to divert capital into productive investment in the real economy.

Greg Clark: Ex-ante position limits have been proposed on commodity derivative contracts as part of the Commission’s review into the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID). The primary aim of position limits is to facilitate orderly markets and prevent market abuse, specifically around the delivery of physically-settled futures contracts. Position limits are not used to divert capital into productive investment in the real economy.

Stocks and Shares

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what representations he has received on the importance of the continued use of over-the-counter derivatives by non-financial companies;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of EU regulations restricting the use of over-the-counter derivatives by non-financial companies.

Greg Clark: Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. It is not the Government's practice to provide detail of such discussions.
	The Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on OTC derivatives, central counterparties and trade repositories, which was agreed earlier this year, puts in place a new legislative framework for the use of over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives. A key objective of European Markets Infrastructure Regulations is to mitigate systemic risk in the OTC derivatives market by centrally clearing OTC derivative transactions.
	The regulation provides an exemption from the clearing obligation for non-financial companies for derivative contracts that are objectively measurable as reducing risk directly related to the commercial activity.
	The only restrictions on the use of OTC derivatives by non-financial companies will be when they are used for speculative purposes.

Stocks and Shares: Local Government

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when and for what purpose his Department barred local government from buying derivatives.

Greg Clark: My Department has never barred local government from buying derivates. The issue of whether local authorities could lawfully use derivatives was decided in 1991 in the House of Lords (Hazell v. Hammersmith & Fulham London Borough Council) where it was judged to be ultra vires.

Taxation

Anne Begg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what advice he has taken from HM Revenue and Customs on whether users and promoters of schemes closed down retrospectively under section 58 of the Finance Act 2008 were informed that the schemes did not work;
	(2)  for what reason section 58 of the Finance Act 2008 was applied retrospectively despite HM Revenue and Customs having previously accepted claims for relief under the affected schemes; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  for what reason HM Revenue and Customs waited over 15 years to abolish the tax planning schemes that were closed down retrospectively through section 58 of the Finance Act 2008.

David Gauke: UK residents are taxable on their worldwide income wherever it arises—including situations where it arises by way of foreign partnerships. Section 58 of Finance Act 2008 was enacted to help put that beyond doubt and, in so doing, made it clear that a wholly artificial tax avoidance scheme involving a foreign partnership comprised of foreign trustees did not work.
	As part of HMRC's policy advisory function, advice on various aspects of the introduction of section 58 has been provided, including advice on the communications between HMRC and those affected by its introduction.
	The judgment in HMRC's favour following the judicial review of the introduction of section 58 Finance Act 2008 includes the finding that HMRC did not accept the legal interpretation advanced by users of the artificial avoidance scheme and indeed challenged that interpretation.
	HMRC has become aware that inquiries into a small number of returns have been closed in error. HMRC does not consider that this affects the rationale for the introduction of section 58.
	HMRC does not recognise the reference to a period of 15 years. As it became increasingly clear that use of this artificial and aggressive scheme was growing rapidly and that significant amounts of tax were involved in a scheme which involved a deliberate attempt to flout the intention of Parliament, the previous Government acted to introduce section 58 to restore fairness and provide certainty for all taxpayers.

Taxation: Aviation

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  in which international forums Ministers of his Department have raised the matter of a per-plane duty since May 2010;
	(2)  what meetings Ministers and officials in his Department have held with (a) the aviation industry and (b) other external organisations on the proposals in the 2011 Budget for a per-plane duty;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2012, Official Report, column 519W, on air passenger duty: international comparison, what the response of other countries was to the matters raised at the International Civil Aviation Organisation on a per-plane duty; and if he will make a statement.

Sajid Javid: holding answer 18 September 2012
	I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave on 16 July 2012, Official Report, column 519W.
	Treasury Ministers and officials routinely meet with aviation stakeholders to discuss issues of mutual interest.
	As made clear previously, we will proceed with proposals for a per-plane duty with only international consensus.

Taxation: Combined Heat and Power

Phil Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of removing levy exemption certificates on (a) the finance of existing industrial combined heat and power plants and (b) investment in industrial combined heat and power in the next 10 years.

Sajid Javid: Budget 2011 announced the ending of the exemption from the climate change levy for electricity generated in combined heat and power (CHP) stations and supplied by electricity utilities from 1 April 2013.
	CHP levy exemption certificates are used in the administration of this exemption. Budget 2012 announced that such certificates will not be issued for CHP electricity generated on or after 1 April 2013, but electricity utilities will have five years to use up any stockpile of certificates they hold.
	This exemption was administratively complex and costly to the taxpayer. The impacts of removing the exemption are set out in the Tax Information and Impact Note published at Budget 2012. This can be found on the HMRC website:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2012/tiin-0700.pdf
	This Government are committed to creating an environment that supports manufacturing within the UK and continues to incentivise CHP overall. The Department of Energy and Climate Change is looking at alternative ways to address barriers to investment in good-quality CHP plants.

Taxation: Fraud

Martin Horwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to HM Revenue and Customs' Most Wanted Tax Fugitives, published on 16 August 2012, how many of the top 20 most wanted are the subject of a European Arrest Warrant; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: holding answer 18 September 2012
	Of the 20 fugitives included in the HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) Tax Fugitives campaign, currently six have had European arrest warrants issued against them.
	The remaining 14 fugitives have either:
	not yet been traced;
	are believed to be UK-based;
	are being considered for an European Arrest Warrant;
	are believed to be in a non-European Union country.
	The campaign has currently (as of Friday 14 September 2012) provided information on 13 of the 20 fugitives.

Unemployment: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people between the age of 16 and 64 years were economically inactive in electoral wards in the Peterborough City Council area on 31 March (a) 2001, (b) 2005 and (c) 2012; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated September 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people between the age of 16 and 64 years were economically inactive on 31 March (a) 2001, (b) 2005 and (c) 2012 by electoral ward in the Peterborough City Council area; and if he will make a statement. (121456)(121458)
	Estimates for the number of people aged 16 to 64 economically inactive by electoral ward, are produced from the Census. Latest Census data available by electoral ward is for the 2001 Census, data for 2011 Census has yet to be released.
	Table 1 shows the number of people aged 16 to 64 economically inactive resident in each electoral ward in Peterborough from the 2001 Census.
	Estimates for the number of people aged 16 to 64 economically inactive for Peterborough parliamentary constituency are available from the Annual Population Survey (APS). Earliest data available is for the 12 month APS period January to December 2004.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of economically inactive people aged 16 to 64 resident by electoral wards in Peterborough in 2001 
			  Aged 16 to 64 
			 Barnack 346 
			 Bretton North 1,433 
			 Bretton South 473 
			 Central 2,064 
			 Dogsthorpe 1,606 
			 East 1,515 
			 Eye and Thorney 658 
			 Fletton 1,044 
			 Glinton and Wittering 715 
			 Newborough 286 
			 North 824 
			 Northborough 331 
			 Orton Longueville 1,679 
			 Orton Waterville 1,084 
			 Orton with Hampton 375 
			 Park 1,111 
			 Paston 1,282 
			 Ravensthorpe 1,246 
			 Stanground Central 1,122 
			 Stanground East 429 
			 Walton 662 
			 Werrington North 931 
			 Werrington South 857 
			 West 1,266 
			 Source: 2001 Census

VAT: Listed Buildings

David Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has considered removing full rate VAT on alterations to listed buildings with listed building planning consent; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: VAT at the standard rate will be payable on alterations to listed buildings from 1 October 2012. Under transitional arrangements which form part of the legislation, projects will continue to benefit from the zero rate until 30 September 2015 in cases where listed building consent had been applied for before Budget day. The legislation for the removal of the zero rate has only recently been enacted, and so the Treasury has not considered repealing it.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Domestic Violence

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to reduce levels of domestic violence against women.

Jeremy Browne: The Government’s “Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls” action plan sets out our steps to tackle all forms of violence against women, including piloting a domestic violence disclosure scheme, and ring-fencing funding of nearly £40 million until 2015 towards specialist domestic and sexual violence services.

Olympic and Paralympic Games: G4S

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the role of G4S in providing security for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.

Gerry Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she has taken regarding the performance of G4S at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.

Theresa May: G4S did not deliver its contract with LOCOG in full, but it still made a significant contribution—alongside the police and armed forces personnel—to games security. However, rightly, it will only be paid for the services that it provided and will meet the additional police and military costs that were incurred.

Local Crime Information

Nigel Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to better inform people about crimes committed in their local area.

Damian Green: This Government have provided street-level crime maps on the Police.uk website, enabling people to see what crimes have been committed in their local area and what actions the police and courts have taken in response. Later this month, we will start to show names and photographs of individual offenders, along with details of their crime and sentence.

Migration

Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress her Department has made in reducing net migration into the UK.

Mark Harper: In just over two years this Government have reformed every route of entry to the UK for non-EEA migrants. We have increased the skill level required to come for work, tackled abuse in the student sector and stopped family migrants who cannot financially support themselves coming to the country.
	Net migration is falling as a result of these measures.

Anti-slavery Day

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to commemorate Anti-slavery Day 2012.

Mark Harper: 10 members of the Inter-Department Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking are undertaking a range of activities, on or around Anti-slavery Day, to commemorate this important occasion.

Front-line Policing

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which police forces the largest change in front-line police officers has taken place since May 2010.

Damian Green: Between March 2010 and March 2012, the total number of front-line officers fell by 6,778. West Midlands police saw the greatest reduction in front-line officer numbers. Over the past year, crime there has fallen by 10%, much more than the national average, proving that what matters is not the number of officers, but how they are deployed and how effective they are at fighting crime.

Animal Experiments

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the answer of 11 November 2009, Official Report, column 435W, on Wickham Research Laboratories: Animal Experiments, whether she now requires licence-holders under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to obtain her consent before carrying out an animal test for an identified product or substance, where their test is (a) for quality control purposes and (b) other types of regulatory testing; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: Before any animal test is carried out under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), it is a requirement that it must be part of a programme specified in a project licence. No animal tests may be performed under ASPA without this prior consent.
	It remains Home Office practice to authorise specified programmes as opposed to individual tests. However, if authority is requested to carry out an animal test where an alternative test, not involving the use of an animal, has been validated and accepted by regulatory bodies in international test guidelines, applicants are required to provide evidence as to why the non-animal alternative cannot be used. This evidence would usually be for an identified product or substance or class of products or substances.

Anti-slavery Day

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans her Department has to mark Anti-slavery Day on 18 October 2012.

Mark Harper: The Home Office is currently finalising a range of co-ordinated activities for members of the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on human trafficking to mark Anti-slavery Day and to raise awareness.

Assaults on Police: Sick Leave

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sickness days were taken as a result of assaults on (a) police and (b) community support officers in each police force in each of the last five years.

Damian Green: The number of working days lost by police officers as a result of sickness due to assaults, by police force area, in each of the last five years, are given in the following table. Figures are provisional and have not been verified by forces.
	The number of working days lost by police community support officers as a result of sickness due to assaults is not collected centrally by the Home Office.
	
		
			 Number of working days lost by police officers as a result of sickness due to assaults by police force area, 2007-08 to 2011-12(1, 2) 
			  2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Avon and Somerset 566 751 (3)— 980 1,302 
			 Bedfordshire 219 62 52 256 274 
			 Cambridgeshire 120 25 196 87 194 
			 Cheshire 75 112 232 97 41 
			 Cleveland 77 108 68 68 12 
			 Cumbria (3)— 341 570 163 37 
			 Derbyshire 143 281 374 286 141 
			 Devon and Cornwall 188 31 230 166 928 
			 Dorset (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— 
			 Durham 138 18 64 199 153 
			 Dyfed-Powys 154 161 81 35 102 
			 Essex 252 189 397 406 262 
			 Gloucestershire 47 16 244 75 93 
			 Greater Manchester 832 2,074 (3)— (3)— (3)— 
			 Gwent 122 (3)— 157 231 233 
			 Hampshire 191 (3)— (3)— 4 80 
			 Hertfordshire (3)— (3)— (3)— 36 (3)— 
			 Humberside 1,585 126 1,171 39 226 
			 Kent 431 400 594 471 609 
			 Lancashire 596 472 579 241 185 
			 Leicestershire (3)— 177 97 226 (3)— 
			 Lincolnshire 344 233 166 90 109 
			 London, City of 2 44 4 (3)— (3)— 
			 Merseyside 407 534 411 106 469 
			 Metropolitan Police 5,848 6,388 5,581 (3)— (3)— 
			 Norfolk 162 65 155 25 156 
			 Northamptonshire 6 20 25 25 18 
			 Northumbria 1,075 330 2,039 795 476 
			 North Wales 133 (3)— 53 163 19 
			 North Yorkshire (3)— (3)— (3)— 26 44 
		
	
	
		
			 Nottinghamshire 179 193 299 323 328 
			 South Wales (3)— 87 216 214 159 
			 South Yorkshire 69 209 237 35 86 
			 Staffordshire 174 115 186 90 433 
			 Suffolk 208 240 210 114 44 
			 Surrey 69 14 154 24 78 
			 Sussex 276 329 99 124 136 
			 Thames Valley (3)— 168 (3)— 300 142 
			 Warwickshire 24 29 60 87 150 
			 West Mercia 354 322 395 804 445 
			 West Midlands 1,166 1,200 1,198 1,065 1,183 
			 West Yorkshire 691 1,048 635 328 226 
			 Wiltshire (3)— (3)— 28 24 35 
			 (1) Figures are provisional and have not been verified by forces. (2) Assaults do not have to have taken place during the reporting period as long as the sick leave falls within the year. (3) Data not available. Force was not able to supply data at the time of collection.

Asylum

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many legacy asylum cases are currently held by the UK Border Agency.

Mark Harper: As of 30 June 2012 there were 25,500 live legacy asylum cases and 74,000 cases in the asylum controlled archive (rounded to the nearest 500).
	The Case Assurance and Audit Unit (CAAU) will continue to manage the cases taking robust action to trace applicants and conclude cases where new information comes to light which allows cases to be progressed. All the cases in the asylum controlled archive will either have been moved to the live cohort for caseworking or closed by the end of 2012.

Burglary

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reported incidents of household burglary there were in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Browne: The available information relates to offences of burglary in a dwelling recorded by the police in England and Wales and is given in the table.
	
		
			 Number of offences of burglary in a dwelling recorded by the police in England and Wales, financial year since 2007-08 
			 Financial year Burglary in a dwelling 
			 2007-08 280,696 
			 2008-09 284,431 
			 2009-10 268,606 
			 2010-11 258,165 
			 2011-12 245,317 
			 Source: Police Recorded Crime HO/ONS

Charities

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the (a) grant to and (b) use by registered charities of funding from her Department for the purposes of advocacy, lobbying or campaigning; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office makes grants under statute for specific purposes that fulfil the aims and objectives of the Department. Providing a grant to any organisation for the purpose of political advocacy, lobbying or campaigning would not be in line with Home Office policy and is expressly prohibited by the terms and conditions of the standard Home Office grant agreement.
	Grants are monitored to ensure that the recipient uses the funding for the purposes specified and complies with the terms and conditions of the grant agreement.

Deportation: Tamils

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the risk to failed Tamil asylum seekers of being tortured by Sri Lankan security services after deportation from the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Mark Harper: The UK Border Agency does not enforce the return of individuals unless it is safe to do so and when it and the courts are satisfied that the individual has no international protection needs. The agency's decision makers have access to the latest country report and an Operational Guidance Note for Sri Lanka; this helps to ensure that claims for protection are considered in the light of objective information.

Deportation: Tamils

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will review the procedure under which allegations of ill-treatment following forcible return of asylum seekers to Sri Lanka are undertaken by the Migration Delivery Officer.

Mark Harper: There are no plans to review the current procedure. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Migration Delivery Officer will investigate any specific allegations that an individual returnee has experienced ill-treatment on return from the UK. The Migration Delivery Officer will also pass to the UK Border Agency any general information they may receive which suggests that returnees have been mistreated. This is then used in UK Border Agency country of origin information reports and operational guidance notes to assist the agency's decision makers in considering applications for protection.

Deportation: Tamils

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Sri Lankan Tamils have been granted protection by the UK after experiencing torture following (a) forcible and (b) voluntary return to Sri Lanka from the UK since May 2009.

Mark Harper: This information is not held in a format compatible with National Statistics protocols.
	However, statistics regarding asylum applications, decisions and removals are published on a quarterly and annual basis and can be viewed on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-q2-2012

Domestic Violence

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) incidents and (b) arrests for acts of domestic violence were recorded by each police force in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Browne: The number of domestic violence incidents, by police force area, for the last five years are given in the following table.
	The number of reported domestic violence incidents where an arrest was made related to the incident have been provided within the following table. The Home Office stopped collecting these figures from 2009-10 in response to the Normington review of data burdens on the police.
	
		
			 Number of reported domestic violence incidents where an arrest was made related to the incident 2007-08 and 2008-09(1) 
			  2007-08 2008-09 
			 Avon and Somerset 3,313 2,902 
			 Bedfordshire 1,333 1,745 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,723 1,605 
			 Cheshire 2,635 2,882 
			 Cleveland 3,609 3,610 
			 Cumbria 1,577 1,480 
			 Derbyshire 4,458 4,496 
			 Devon and Cornwall 4,395 3,990 
			 Dorset 2,148 2,391 
			 Durham 2,149 1,527 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,492 1,376 
			 Essex 5,606 6,551 
			 Gloucestershire 2,287 2,154 
			 Greater Manchester n/a n/a 
			 Gwent 357 2,737 
			 Hampshire 7,321 5,223 
			 Hertfordshire 3,223 3,529 
			 Humberside 3,057 3,590 
			 Kent 6,696 7,058 
			 Lancashire 8,365 8,827 
			 Leicestershire 1,657 1,943 
			 Lincolnshire 2,129 1,906 
			 London, City of 55 42 
			 Merseyside 6,320 6,438 
			 Metropolitan Police 35,355 40,281 
			 Norfolk 1,655 1,760 
			 Northamptonshire 1,809 1,555 
			 Northumbria 8,758 8,298 
			 North Wales 3,461 2,745 
			 North Yorkshire 1,795 1,741 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,756 526 
		
	
	
		
			 South Wales n/a 4,730 
			 South Yorkshire 6,377 6,360 
			 Staffordshire 3,074 1,869 
			 Suffolk 782 1,903 
			 Surrey 2,843 2,231 
			 Sussex 3,784 1,894 
			 Thames Valley 9,053 9,222 
			 Warwickshire 2,054 1,185 
			 West Mercia 3,538 3,744 
			 West Midlands 13,732 12,943 
			 West Yorkshire 16,729 15,189 
			 Wiltshire 2,430 2,342 
			 n/a = Data not available. Force was not able to supply data at the time of collection. (1) Figures are provisional and have not been verified by forces. Note: Home Office stopped collecting these figures from 2009-10.

Driving Under Influence

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women were arrested for drink driving offences in each police authority in each year since 1997.

Jeremy Browne: The information requested is not collected centrally by the Home Office.

Entry Clearances: Married People

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the UK Border Agency's longest outstanding spousal visa application was made.

Mark Harper: To provide this information would require the examination of individual records, which would incur disproportionate costs.

Entry Clearances: Married People

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many spousal visas are awaiting determination after the expiry of the UK Border Agency's six-months service standard.

Mark Harper: holding answer 14 September 2012
	The UK Border Agency's standards say that it will process 95% of settlement applications within 12 weeks of the application date, and 100% within 24 weeks of the application date.
	In the period January 2012 to June 2012, out of 18,439 spouse/civil partner applications, 54 (0.3%) were awaiting determination after six months.
	These data are based on management information. It is provisional and subject to change.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to help international students affected by the removal of the licence to teach international students at their places of study find new places to study and to provide funding for their studies.

Mark Harper: holding answer 18 September 2012
	The UK Border Agency (UKBA) acts in line with the Tier 4 sponsor guidance, which states if it believes that students were actively involved (complicit) in the circumstances which led to the licence being revoked, they immediately cancel their permission to stay in the UK and the student has to leave the UK or face enforced removal.
	If UKBA believes that students were not actively involved in the circumstances which led to the licence being revoked, they will generally reduce (curtail) the student's permission to stay in the UK to 60 calendar days. This enables students to find new places to study. UKBA will, however, consider the individual circumstances of the student before reaching a decision on curtailment.
	If a student has less than 60 days' permission left, UKBA will not curtail it. If they have not found a new sponsor when their permission expires they will have to leave the UK or face enforced removal.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of applications for visas from overseas students in higher education assessed by the UK Border Agency was successful in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13 to date; and if she will make a statement.

Mark Harper: The UK Border Agency's published data do not distinguish between higher education students and all other students. To provide an accurate answer to the question tabled would require the examination of individual records, which would incur disproportionate costs.
	The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), will not make a statement on this issue.
	The following table is for all student visas resolved and issued, by calendar year, including student visitors and dependants.
	
		
			 Calendar year Number resolved Number issued Percentage issued 
			 2009 459,826 341,066 74 
			 2010 449,311 334,735 74 
			 2011 391,918 322,786 82 
			 Source: Home Office, Immigration stats Statistics April - June 2012, table be.01

EU Immigration

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has made any contingency plans to tackle an increase in EU immigration in the event of changes to the economic management of the Eurozone.

Mark Harper: The Home Office carries out scenario planning for all possible events which could impact on migration flows from the European Union to the UK. Currently there are no new trends which give cause for concern.
	Under EU law, any European national staying in the UK for more than three months must be exercising Treaty rights as a worker, student, self-employed or self-sufficient person.
	Those who are not exercising those rights are required to leave the UK.

EU Justice and Home Affairs

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received on Protocol 36 of the Treaties of the European Union regarding the UK's ability to opt out in the field of Justice and Home Affairs; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 13 September 2012
	The Government are currently considering the issue, where a decision would have to be notified by 31 May 2014. We will be listening carefully to the views of interested parties, including law enforcement agencies and others, before taking a final decision.

Forced Marriage

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what timescale she has set for bringing forward legislation on forced marriage.

Jeremy Browne: The legislation on forced marriage will be brought in as soon as parliamentary time allows.

G4S

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much G4S has been paid under its Olympics security contract; how much of its management fee has been paid; how much G4S has paid to compensate for the drafting of military personnel to cover security shortfalls; and how much she estimates the Government will pay G4S in total for the Olympics security contract.

James Brokenshire: The contract for security guarding for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is between G4S and the London Organising Committee (LOCOG) as event organisers. This is subject to ongoing commercial negotiations.

Illegal Immigrants: Employment

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total amount levied for civil penalties in respect of illegal working was in each quarter since April 2008; and what the total amount collected was from April 2008 to the latest date on which figures are available.

Mark Harper: The total amount levied for civil penalties in respect of illegal working in each quarter since 2008 can be seen in the following table:
	
		
			  Quarter Total value (£) 
			 2008 2 3,373,750 
			  3 4,768,750 
			  4 3,135,000 
			    
			 2009 1 5,437,500 
			  2 4,460,000 
			  3 8,551,250 
		
	
	
		
			  4 4,371,250 
			    
			 2010 1 4,371,250 
			  2 5,460,000 
			  3 4,465,000 
			  4 3,222,500 
			    
			 2011 1 4,000,000 
			  2 2,777,500 
			  3 2,915,000 
			  4 2,622,500 
			    
			 2012 1 3,060,000 
			  2 2,891,250 
			    
			 Grand total  69,882,500 
			 Note: All the figures given regarding illegal working are sourced from a UK Border Agency management information system which is not quality assured under National Statistics protocols and are subject to change due to internal data quality checking. Figures provided from this source do not constitute part of National Statistics and should be treated as provisional. 
		
	
	The total amount collected between April 2008 and 31 August 2012 is £20.71 million. No payment or recovery action can or will begin until an employers' objection and/or appeal rights have been exhausted. Employers may also apply for a pre-agreed instalment payment plan of up to a 24 month period when paying the penalty.

Illegal Immigrants: West Midlands

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal working civil penalties were levied in the West Midlands in 2011.

Mark Harper: Twelve civil penalties were issued to employers of illegal workers during 2011 based on a search of postcode areas within the West Midlands.
	The figures provided are sourced from a UK Border Agency management information system which is not quality assured under National Statistics protocols and is subject to change due to internal data quality checking. Figures provided from this source do not constitute part of National Statistics and should be treated as provisional.

Immigration Controls

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the e-Passport gates have been switched off (a) because of mechanical failure and (b) due to staff shortages in the last six months.

Mark Harper: The figures on the number of occasions that the e-Gates have been switched off due to mechanical failure are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost to the taxpayer.
	Ports deploy their available staffing resource as appropriate. While e-Gates are an important part of our arrangements at the border there are occasions, such as when a high proportion of non-EEA passengers are expected to arrive, when the most effective use of resource is to deploy staff to other forms of clearance. Figures on the number of times this happens are not available centrally.

Immigration Controls

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the average length of time taken to scan each (a) British and (b) non-British passport at passport control at UK airports.

Mark Harper: Opening and scanning passports forms one part of the clearance process at UK airports. There are a number of different types of British, EU and non- EU passports. No recent estimate of the average length of time to scan each type has been made.

Immigration Controls

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any data from the e-Borders programme have been used to produce counts of students entering and exiting the UK; and if not, when she expects e-Borders data to be used to produce such counts.

Mark Harper: The e-Borders system enables checks to be made on individuals arriving or exiting the UK.
	Travel document data that are processed by the system do not identify whether an individual is a student. Overseas students require a visa to study in the UK, although some nationalities require a visa only where they intend to study for more than six months.
	UKBA is able to cross-check e-Borders data against other systems to confirm purpose of entry to the UK. However, until e-Borders coverage is sufficiently broad, we will not be in a position to count all departures, including those of students.
	e-Borders currently tracks 55% of inbound and outbound passenger movements to and from the UK. This amounts to 68% of all aviation movements and includes 100% of non-EU commercial aviation passengers.
	In July, e-Borders commenced work to include international ferry passengers with a plan for full roll-out by 2015.

Immigration Controls

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals currently residing in the UK are subject to conditions imposed in accordance with Article 27 of EU Directive 2004/58/EC.

Mark Harper: In accordance with article 27 of the free movement directive (Directive 2004/38/EC), member states may restrict the freedom of movement and residence of European Union citizens and their family members, irrespective of nationality, on grounds of public policy, public security or public health. The directive is transposed into UK law by the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006.
	In 2011 the number of EEA nationals or their family members refused the right to reside in the UK was 8,495. A further 1,999 were refused permanent residence. Information relating to 2012 is currently not available. The UK Border Agency does not hold data on the reasons for those refusals.

London Metropolitan University

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many students affected by the decision to revoke London Metropolitan university's highly trusted status she expects the UK Border Authority to write to in October to inform that they have 60 days to find a new course.

Mark Harper: The UK Border Agency has advised students previously sponsored by London Metropolitan university, via its website, that they need to find a new sponsor following the decision to revoke London Metropolitan university's sponsor licence.
	From 1 October the UK Border Agency will write to all students who were sponsored by London Metropolitan university and have not applied for further leave to remain in the UK with a different sponsor.
	As the clearing house set up to enable students to transfer to different sponsors was launched only on 17 September, it is too early to know how many students will have not applied for further leave. Those students may be informed that their leave is reduced to 60 days.

Metal Theft

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many instances of metal theft from a domestic property occurred in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Browne: It is not possible to provide the level of detail requested. There is no individual crime recording category for the theft of metal which is usually recorded under ‘Other Theft' and includes theft from both domestic and non-domestic property.
	The Home Office have reviewed the ‘Other Theft' category of police recorded crime and estimated that there were between 80,000 and 100,000 cases of metal theft out of over 400,000 cases from that crime classification category in England and Wales during 2010-11.

Metropolitan Police: Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2012, Official Report, column 403W, on Bahrain, for what reasons each deployment of Metropolitan Police officers to Bahrain took place.

Damian Green: Both deployments were sought to provide advice and assistance to the Bahraini authorities with specific investigations into terrorist attacks or attack planning in Bahrain.

Morecambe and Lunesdale: Funding

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding her Department has allocated to Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency since 2010.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office accounting system does not record expenditure at this level of detail.

Ministerial Visits: Nottinghamshire

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what ministerial visits to (a) the City of Nottingham and (b) Nottinghamshire have taken place since May 2010.

James Brokenshire: Home Office Ministers have meetings with a wide variety of international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Olympic Games 2012

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials from her Department used the Olympic route network for travel for official purposes during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.

James Brokenshire: The Home Secretary used the Olympic route network (ORN) for games-related official business under the terms of her games accreditation but details of such journeys are not recorded. The ORN was not used for official purposes by any other Minister or official.

Olympic Games 2012: Security

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to the public purse has been of employing additional police and army personnel during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

James Brokenshire: The security of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is an ongoing operation. G4S has made it clear that it will bear any additional military and policing costs arising from failure to meet its contractual obligations.

Pay

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the highest paid position is in (a) her Department and (b) her Department's agencies.

James Brokenshire: As part of the Government's transparency agenda, the Department is required to publish information on senior staff along with departmental organograms.
	This information includes the names, job titles and salaries of staff at director level and above and is published on the Home Office website on a six-monthly basis.
	The following link provides the most recent update as at 31 March 2012:
	http://www.data.gov.uk/organogram/home-office

Police

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the change in the number of frontline police officers has been since May 2010.

Damian Green: Figures collected by the Home Office show there were 119,154 frontline police officers as at 31 March 2010 and 112,377 as at 31 March 2012 (full-time equivalents). Definitions of frontline policing are based on Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary's definition for 2011 within the Adapting to Austerity report and use the data collected in the Home Office Annual Data Requirement return.

Police and Crime Commissioners

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police force areas have agreed arrangements for police and crime panels.

Damian Green: Local authorities in England outside London are responsible for agreeing police and crime panel arrangements. All 37 force areas in England have notified the Home Office that panel arrangements are in place. In Wales the Secretary of State for the Home Department is responsible for making panel arrangements. The required number of councillors have been nominated to all four of the police force areas in Wales.

Police and Crime Commissioners

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many shadow police and crime panels have been established; and in what areas such panels have been established.

Damian Green: Local authorities in England are responsible for establishing police and crime panels (PCPs). Local authorities in all of the 37 areas in England have notified the Home Office that panel arrangements have been made and the required number of councillors appointed. In Wales the Secretary of State for the Home Department is responsible for the establishment of police and crime panels. Welsh local authorities were invited to develop panel arrangements and nominate councillors. The required number of councillors has been nominated to the PCPs for the four police force areas in Wales.

Police Custody: Photographs

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has taken steps to revise her Department's policy on the retention of custody photographs following the judgment in R (RMC and FJ) v Metropolitan Police Commissioner dated 22 June 2012.

Damian Green: The Home Office is giving careful consideration to this judgment, together with the Metropolitan Police Service and the Association of Chief Police Officers. The judgment raises several issues relating to the retention of records by the police and responses will be developed as soon as possible.

Police: Finance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters her Department has received about future funding for the (a) Metropolitan police and (b) British Transport police in each month of (i) 2011-12 and (ii) 2012-13 to date; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The number of letters received by the Department about future funding for the Metropolitan police is shown in the following table. The Department does not deal with policing matters for the British Transport police; this is an issue for the Department for Transport.
	
		
			 Fiscal year Month received Number of letters about future Metropolitan police funding Type of response 
			 2011-12 June 1 Ministerial 
			 2011-12 August 2 Treat Official 
			 2011-12 September 1 Ministerial 
			 2012-13 June 1 Ministerial

Police: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police community support officers and (b) police officers there were in (i) Richmond upon Thames, (ii) Waltham Forest and (iii) Haringey on 5 April (A) 2010, (B) 2011 and (C) 2012; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 18 September 2012, Official Report, column 574W.

Police: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police community support officers and (b) police officers there were in each London borough as at 31 March (i) 2010 and (ii) 2011; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: Figures were collected by the Home Office for the number of police community support officers and police officers within each London borough, as at 31 March 2010 and 31 March 2011, and are given in the following table.
	
		
			 Police community support officer and police officer strength within each London borough as at 31 March 2010 and 31 March 2011(1, 2) 
			  Police community support officers Police officers 
			  31 March 2010 31 March 2011 31 March 2010 31 March 2011 
			 Barking and Dagenham 101 88 448 443 
		
	
	
		
			 Barnet 178 144 596 585 
			 Bexley 114 97 406 400 
			 Brent 137 112 712 682 
			 Bromley 169 149 524 511 
			 Camden 124 115 889 831 
			 City of London 52 44 308 317 
			 City of Westminster 391 338 1,656 1,586 
			 Croydon 173 141 755 736 
			 Ealing 179 143 728 697 
			 Enfield 170 150 601 580 
			 Greenwich 123 111 711 669 
			 Hackney 123 103 784 771 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 116 97 600 574 
			 Haringey 119 97 734 708 
			 Harrow 117 99 404 392 
			 Havering 124 113 395 387 
			 Heathrow 58 49 461 435 
			 Hillingdon 114 98 526 540 
			 Hounslow 109 94 540 522 
			 Islington 117 103 719 713 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 164 145 579 565 
			 Kingston upon Thames 92 72 337 321 
			 Lambeth 198 168 1,042 1,004 
			 Lewisham 119 109 691 657 
			 Merton 105 85 396 392 
			 Newham 156 130 826 805 
			 Redbridge 116 108 502 486 
			 Richmond upon Thames 103 87 335 307 
			 Southwark 154 131 964 933 
			 Sutton 97 76 356 344 
			 Tower Hamlets 131 121 829 793 
			 Waltham Forest 114 100 578 556 
			 Wandsworth 126 115 619 608 
			 (1) These figures are based on full-time equivalents that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. (2) Figures include those officers on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave.

Police: Misconduct

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many chief police officers have been suspended for (a) misconduct and (b) gross misconduct in England and Wales in the 12 months prior to 15 September 2012.

Damian Green: The available information is for the number of ACPO rank police officers on suspension, as at 31 March 2011, 30 September 2011 and 31 March 2012 in England and Wales. On each of these dates respectively, zero, four and four ACPO rank police officers had been suspended for more than 28 calendar days. The Home Office does not hold data for officers who were suspended for less that 28 days. Reasons behind these suspensions are a matter for the police authorities.

Police: Overseas Workers

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on deploying UK police forces to provide assistance to countries where the death penalty remains in place.

Damian Green: All requests to provide police assistance overseas are carefully considered and include an assessment, where the death penalty applies, of the risk that it may be enforced as a consequence of the assistance provided. In cases where the risk of the death penalty being imposed are significant, assurances are sought that a person found guilty would not face the death penalty before the assistance is agreed. The Home Secretary would decide, on a case-by-case basis, whether or not to authorise assistance under the provisions of section 26 of the Police Act 1996.

Public Order Act 1986

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the results of the consultation on reforming section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, which ended on 13 January 2012, will be published.

Damian Green: holding answer 18 September 2012
	I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hyndburn (Graham Jones) on 17 September 2012, Official Report, column 510W.

Sri Lanka

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make representations to the Government of Sri Lanka about claims on the website of its Ministry of Defence that the UK torture rehabilitation centre Freedom from Torture is a proxy terror front group.

Alistair Burt: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
	The British Government, through our high commission in Colombo, raised this claim with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs shortly after it appeared on the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence website in February. As we made clear at the time, Freedom from Torture is a respected non-governmental organisation. The use of such labels, without a clear evidential basis, for organisations that are pursuing legitimate human rights issues is counterproductive to reconciliation between the various communities in Sri Lanka.

Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what media or public speaking training Ministers in her Department have received since May 2010.

James Brokenshire: The former Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Equalities and Criminal Information, the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone), attended a half-day media and presentation training session.
	The former Minister of State for Crime Prevention and Anti-Social Behaviour Reduction, my noble Friend Lord Henley, attended a two hour media training session.
	No other Home Office Minister has received media or public speaking training since May 2012.

UK Border Agency

Keith Vaz: EWHC 2120 (5 August 2011), (ii) R (BA) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2011] EWHC 2748 (26 October 2011) and (iii) R (HA) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2011] EWHC 979 (17 April 2012).

Mark Harper: holding answer 7 September 2012
	UK Border Agency records show that no disciplinary action has been recorded against any members of staff in the cases listed above.

UK Border Agency

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many former UK Border Agency staff have been re-employed within a year of receiving a redundancy payment since 2010.

Mark Harper: The UK Border Agency has not re-employed any staff who were previously made redundant. Some staff who have left under voluntary exit terms have been given short fixed-term contracts more than six months after departure to enable the transfer of skills, and to provide support on the Primary Controls leading up to, during and after the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Vetting

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information her Department currently holds on the number of Criminal Records Bureau checks awaiting processing by the Metropolitan police.

Jeremy Browne: As at 19 September 2012, there are 12,639 Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks awaiting processing by the Metropolitan police. The average turnaround time for these CRB checks is 13.82 days.

Vetting: Young People

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what documents are required by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) to prove the identity of a 16 or 17-year-old who wishes to enrol on a further education course which requires a CRB certificate; what consultation her Department or the CRB conducted on the question of whether 16 and 17-year-olds would be able to provide such identity documents; and how identity will be proved if a young person is unable to provide the required documents.

Jeremy Browne: All applicants for Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) certificates must provide evidence of their identity irrespective of their age in accordance with the ‘CRB identity checking process guidance' which is available on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/agencies-public-bodies/crb/
	The CRB introduced enhancements to the identity (ID) checking guidelines to strengthen the process used by registered bodies for validating applicants in order to improve public protection on 1 September 2012.
	This guidance also includes the steps that can be taken where people are unable to provide the required identity documents.
	Exceptions have been made for 16 to 19-year-olds in full-time education. Additionally, they can use a letter confirming their identity from their Head Teacher or Principal as part of the range of required documents. Again, this information is available on the website.
	The CRB undertook an initial impact assessment with 20 registered bodies about the proposed changes and the potential impact on the registered bodies and applicants for disclosure (17 registered bodies from their top 50 users and three smaller registered bodies, together representing 23% of CRB's total annual applicant flow). This has been complemented by communication throughout the implementation period through emails and the usual CRB publications. The new process will be kept under review.

Witnesses

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy that witnesses should be able to retain a copy of their witness statement at the point at which they complete such a statement.

Damian Green: The Government have no plans to amend current practice in relation to witness statements.

JUSTICE

Arson: Schools

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prosecutions there were for arson on school premises in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Wright: Information held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on the Court Proceedings Database does not contain information about the circumstances behind each case, beyond the description provided in the statute under which proceedings are brought. It is not possible to identify from this centrally held information the specific location of arson offences.

Assaults On Police

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to take steps to increase sentences for those who assault police officers.

Jeremy Wright: The Government believe that the assault of any police officer is a serious matter and those who commit the offence should be punished appropriately. In 2011, the Sentencing Council issued guidelines for assault on a police constable in execution of his duty, which apply to cases sentenced on or after 13 June 2011. Assault of a police officer is a specific offence appropriate to cases where no injury or significant injury is caused. The guideline for assault of a constable has higher ranges than common assault to reflect the aggravated nature of targeting a police officer. More severe injuries committed against a police officer are likely to attract charges of actual bodily harm or grievous bodily harm for which substantial custodial sentences are available and where the guidelines direct the courts to take account of the fact that the assault was against a person working in the public sector.

Assaults On Police

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many assaults on police officers resulted in (a) custodial and (b) non-custodial sentences in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2011.

Jeremy Wright: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for assault on a constable, by sentence breakdown, in England and Wales in 2010 and 2011 can be viewed in the table.
	
		
			 Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts, for assault on a constable, by sentence breakdown, England and Wales, 2010 and 2011(1, 2) 
			  Proceeded against Found guilty Sentenced(3) Absolute discharge Conditional discharge Fine Community sentence Suspended sentence Immediate custody Otherwise dealt with(4) 
			 2010 10,351 8,695 8,729 22 814 1,253 4,209 768 1,368 295 
			 2011 10,845 9,224 9,241 31 799 1,782 4,318 737 1,255 319 
			 (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) The number of offenders sentenced can differ from those found guilty as it may be the case that a defendant found guilty in a particular year, and committed for sentence at the Crown court, may be sentenced in the following year. (4) The category Otherwise dealt with includes: one day in police cells; disqualification order; restraining order; confiscation order; travel restriction order; disqualification from driving; and other miscellaneous disposals. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice.

Belmarsh Prison: Fire Prevention

George Freeman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will take steps to review all fire protection units (a) already installed and (b) scheduled to be installed at HMP Belmarsh to ensure that they are not in breach of patents filed by Watermist Ltd.

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice has arranged for the registered patent holder to inspect fire protection units which have been installed at HMP Belmarsh. Consideration of future fire protection installation will be reviewed once the inspection has taken place.

Burglary

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people convicted of household burglary received (a) custodial and (b) non-custodial sentences in 2011;
	(2)  of those receiving custodial sentences for household burglary in each of the last five years, how many received a sentence of (a) up to (and including) one month, (b) over one month but less than six months, (c) over six months but less than a year, (d) between one and two years, (e) between two and five years and (f) over five years.

Jeremy Wright: The number of persons found guilty and sentence given, at all courts for burglary in a dwelling, in England and Wales in 2011 can be viewed in table 1.
	The number of persons sentenced to immediate custody at all courts, for burglary in a dwelling, by sentence length, in England and Wales, from 2007-11 can be viewed in table 2.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of persons found guilty at all courts for burglary in a dwelling offences(1), by sentence breakdown, England and Wales, 2011(2, 3) 
			    Sentence breakdown 
			  Found guilty Sentenced(4) Absolute discharge Conditional discharge Fine Community sentence Suspended sentence Immediate custody Otherwise dealt with(5) 
			 Number 14,450 14,362 9 103 36 4,128 1,568 8,261 257 
			 (1) Includes offences under sections 9 and 10 of the Theft Act 1968: Burglary in a dwelling with intent to commit an offence; Burglary in a dwelling with violence or the threat of violence; Other burglary in a dwelling; Aggravated burglary in a dwelling (including attempts). (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) The number of offenders sentenced can differ from those found guilty as it may be the case that a defendant found guilty in a particular year, and committed for sentence at the Crown court, may be sentenced in the following year. (5) The category ‘otherwise dealt with’ includes: one day in police cells; disqualification order; restraining order; confiscation order; travel restriction order; disqualification from driving; recommendation for deportation; and other miscellaneous disposals. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services: Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of persons sentenced to immediate custody at all courts, for burglary in a dwelling offences(1), by sentence length, England and Wales, 2007-11(2, 3) 
			  Immediate custody One month and under Over one month and up to six months Six months Over six months and up to one year One year Over one year up to and including two years Over two years up to and including five years Over five years 
			 2007 6,172 78 871 399 546 655 1,626 1,861 136 
			 2008 6,696 69 809 444 640 661 1,669 2,231 173 
			 2009 7,120 36 710 403 723 775 1,920 2,386 167 
			 2010 7,574 39 746 369 718 869 2,074 2,557 202 
			 2011 8,261 47 751 368 840 914 2,234 2,851 256 
			 (1) Includes offences under sections 9 and 10 of the Theft Act 1968: Burglary in a dwelling with intent to commit an offence; Burglary in a dwelling with violence or the threat of violence; Other burglary in a dwelling; Aggravated burglary in a dwelling (including attempts). (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services: Ministry of Justice.

Burglary

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people convicted of household burglary in 2011 had been convicted of at least one previous offence.

Jeremy Wright: The following table shows the number and percentage of offenders convicted of household burglary in 2011 who previously had been convicted of at least one previous offence.
	
		
			 Number and percentage of offenders convicted of household burglary offence in 2011 who previously had been convicted of at least one previous offence, England and Wales 
			 Number and percentage 
			  Number of offenders(2) 
			 Offence Total With at least one previous conviction Percentage 
			 Household burglary(1) 13,874 11,782 84.9 
			 (1) Household burglary offence include: (a) Theft Act 1968, sec.9—Burglary in a dwelling with intent to commit or the commission of an offence triable only on indictment. (b) Theft Act 1968, sec.9—Burglary in a dwelling with violence or the threat of violence (c) Theft Act 1968, sec.9—Other burglary in a dwelling. (2) The figures presented here have been taken from the Police National Computer (PNC). They may be differ from the figures taken from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) court proceedings database because the PNC is a live operational database and the number of records is subject to update when more information becomes available to police. 
		
	
	These figures are a further breakdown of Table A7.5 in ‘Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly Update to December 2011’ which was published on 24 May 2012.
	The full report can be found at the link:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/statistics/criminal-justice-stats/criminal-justice-stats-dec-2011.pdf
	These figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, the police national computer, which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.

Burglary

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the reoffending rates have been of people convicted of household burglary over the last five years.

Jeremy Wright: Table 1 shows the number of offenders in England and Wales who were convicted of household burglary and either released from custody or received a non-custodial conviction at court in each of the years 2005 to 2009 (the latest calendar year available). The re-offending rates for these offenders, i.e. the proportion that committed a proven reoffence within a one-year follow-up period is also shown. Reoffending rates for 2010 will be published on 25 October 2012.
	
		
			 Table l: Re-offending rate of offenders who were convicted of household burglary(1) and released from custody or received a non-custodial conviction at court in 2005-09 
			  Number of offenders Proportion of offenders who re-offend (%) 
			 2005 8,180 53.6 
			 2006 7,847 53.1 
			 2007 8,529 52.9 
			 2008 8,750 54.5 
			 2009 8,575 51.6 
			 (1) Includes offences under sections 9 and 10 of the Theft Act 1968: Burglary in a dwelling with intent to commit an offence; Burglary in a dwelling with violence or the threat of violence; Other burglary in a dwelling; Aggravated burglary in a dwelling (including attempts). 
		
	
	Proven reoffending is defined as any offence committed in a one-year follow-up period and receiving a court conviction, caution, reprimand or warning in the one- year follow-up. Following this one-year period, a further six-month waiting period is allowed for cases to progress through the courts.

Charities

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his policy is on the (a) grant to and (b) use by registered charities of funding from his Department for the purposes of advocacy, lobbying or campaigning; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Grant: The Department makes payments to various third sector organisations, including voluntary and community groups and registered charities. Grant agreements contain standard terms and conditions which prohibit using the grant to fund certain activities. These include activities which may be party-political in intention, use or presentation or general lobbying on behalf of the recipient. Potential breaches are investigated and appropriate action taken where necessary.

Debt Collection

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to regulate the actions of debt collection companies to ensure that innocent people are not incorrectly targeted as a result of poor or inaccurate information gathering.

Jo Swinson: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, businesses must hold a consumer credit licence if they wish to undertake consumer lending or related credit activities, including the collection of debts that have arisen under consumer credit agreements. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) considers the fitness and competence of businesses that apply for a licence and continues to monitor licensees, taking action where businesses do not reach or maintain the relevant standard.
	The OFT has issued guidance aimed at consumer credit licence holders involved in debt collection. The guidance makes clear the responsibility of licensees to ensure the quality and level of information they maintain and exchange with others. The guidance also sets out specific practices that the OFT would consider to be unfair and which would call into question the fitness of the business concerned, including practices relating to poor data accuracy resulting in the pursuit of debt that is not owed, or pursuit of the wrong debtor.

Driving Offences

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people have been banned from driving who were under the age of 17 at the time of the imposition of the ban in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many people have been convicted of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs under section 3A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jeremy Wright: The number of disqualifications for all motoring offences at all courts, for offenders aged under 17, in England and Wales, from 2009 to 2011 can be viewed in table 1.
	Young people who are convicted of driving offences will be subject to penalty points and disqualification even if they are not yet old enough to hold a driving licence. A disqualification of an offender aged under 17 means they cannot apply for or be issued with a driving licence until their disqualification period has passed. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority maintains a record of all disqualifications or penalty points awarded, including for offenders who do not currently hold a licence.
	For some driving offences (including dangerous driving, death by dangerous driving and drink driving), disqualification is mandatory and therefore an offender would be disqualified whether or not they have a licence (be they over or under 17). Driving while disqualified is of itself a serious offence. For administrative reasons, a driving disqualification is in force from the time it is imposed by a court.
	The number of persons found guilty at all courts for causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink and drugs under section 3A of the Road Traffic Act 1988, in England and Wales for 2011, can be viewed in table 2.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of disqualifications for all motoring offences at all courts, for offenders aged under 17 years, England and Wales, 2009-11(1) 
			 Number 
			  2009 2010 2011 
			 Total number of disqualifications 1,791 1,227 1,021 
			 (1) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of persons found guilty at all courts for causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink and drugs, England and Wales, 2011(1, 2) 
			 Statute Number 
			 Section 3A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 35 
			 (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice.

Electronic Surveillance: Admissibility of Evidence

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many trials have been abandoned in each of the last 10 years due to the inadmissibility of intercept evidence under sections 17 and 18 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Helen Grant: The Ministry of Justice holds statistical information in relation to defendants whose proceedings are abandoned in the magistrates courts or Crown court. However, the central administrative databases for courts do not store information on trials abandoned due to the inadmissibility of intercept evidence under sections 17 and 18 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. As such, the information requested can be obtained only through the manual inspection of individual case files held by the courts and at disproportionate cost.

EU Justice and Home Affairs

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what representations he has received on Protocol 36 of the Treaties of the European Union regarding the UK's ability to opt out in the field of Justice and Home Affairs; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Grant: The Government are considering carefully all the implications of what is a very complex issue. We welcome the views of interested parties ahead of making a final decision by 31 May 2014.
	We have taken note of the interests of the European and Departmental Select Committees. We are committed to a vote in Parliament and we will consult with the Committees on the arrangements for that vote.

Fines: Surcharges

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of (a) the effect of inflation on and (b) the costs of collection of the new victim surcharge penalty.

Helen Grant: At the moment the surcharge can be ordered only on fines. We allowed for the effects of inflation when increasing the minimum level of surcharge on fines from £15 to £20. The surcharge to be imposed for the first time on other in-court disposals has been set according to the seriousness of the sentence.
	The costs of enforcing the surcharge will depend on the scale of non-compliance. They will be met from existing budgets.

Fines: Surcharges

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice in what circumstances and on what basis a victim surcharge penalty can be imposed on an offender receiving a custodial sentence.

Helen Grant: The effect of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Surcharge) Order 2012 is that, for offences committed on or after 1 October 2012, the victim surcharge will be payable when an offender is sentenced to an immediate custodial sentence imposed in the Crown court.

Freedom of Information

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of the scope and effectiveness of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Jeremy Wright: The Freedom of Information Act has been subject to post-legislative scrutiny by the Justice Select Committee to see how it is working in practice. The Committee published its recommendations on 26 July, and we intend to respond to them this autumn. The Government submitted a memorandum and other research to inform the Committee's deliberations. This is available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/policy/moj/post-legislative-assessment-of-the-foi-act.pdf
	and
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/research-and-analysis/moj/investigative-study-to-inform-the-freedom-of-information-act-post-legislative-review

Imprisonment: Statistics

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  with reference to the answer of 26 March 2012, Official Report, column 954W, on social benefit fraud, which courts did not send the defendants listed for (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010 to prison;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2012, Official Report, column 418W, on theft convictions, which courts did not send defendants listed for (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010 to prison;
	(3)  with reference to the answer of 14 November 2011, Official Report, column 551W, on offensive weapons: offences, which courts did not send the defendants listed for (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010 to prison;
	(4)  with reference to the answer of 11 January 2011, Official Report, column 280W, on prison sentences: re-offenders, which courts did not send the defendants listed for (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010 to prison.

Jeremy Wright: The table shows the court location where the defendants listed in the selected previous answers were sentenced between 2008 and 2010.
	These figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, the police national computer, which, as with any large-scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.
	
		
			 Courts where the judge or magistrates did not send the defendant, who committed an offence and had the highest number of previous cautions/convictions for the same offence at the point of sentence, to prison, England and Wales, 2008-10 
			 PQ Number Asked the Secretary of State for Justice: 2008 2009 2010 
			 121511 Court where the judge or magistrates did not send the defendant, who committed a social benefit fraud offence and had the highest number of previous cautions/convictions for the same offence at the point of sentence, to prison Selby Magistrates Court (Adult) Woodspring Magistrates Court (Adult) Stockport Magistrates Court (Adult) 
			 121535 Court where the judge or magistrates did not send the defendant, who committed a theft and handling stolen goods offence and had the highest number of previous cautions/convictions for the same offence at the point of sentence, to prison Manchester Magistrates Court (Adult) Blackburn, Darwen and Ribble Valley Magistrates Court (Adult) Bolton Magistrates Court (Adult) 
			 121512 Court where the judge or magistrates did not send the defendant, who committed a possession of offensive weapon offence and had the highest number of previous cautions/convictions for the same offence at the point of sentence, to prison Great Yarmouth Magistrates Court (Adult) Luton and South Bedfordshire Magistrates Court (Adult) Norwich Magistrates Court (Adult) 
			 121536 Court where the judge or magistrates did not send the defendant, who had the highest number of previous cautions/convictions at the point of sentence(1) to prison Huntingdonshire Magistrates Court (Adult) York Magistrates Court (Adult) Lancaster Magistrates Court (Adult) 
			 (1) The defendant with the highest number of previous cautions/convictions at the point of sentence in 2008 was convicted for shoplifting; the defendant with the highest number of previous cautions/convictions at the point of sentence in 2009 was convicted for shoplifting; and the defendant with the highest number of previous cautions/convictions at the point of sentence in 2010 was convicted for an identity fraud offence.

Licensing

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what permits and licences his Department and its public bodies issued to businesses in the last 12 months.

Helen Grant: The Ministry of Justice and its public bodies issue licences to:
	exhume human remains; enable contractors access to building sites;
	reproduce guidelines for the assessment of general damages in personal injury cases;
	publish Crown court, County court and Employment Tribunal lists;
	enable online publishers to provide images of historical records; and
	enable access to documents pertaining to case management systems.

Morecambe and Lunesdale: Funding

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what funding his Department has allocated to Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency since 2010.

Helen Grant: The Department do not allocate funding directly to specific parliamentary constituencies.

Ministerial Visits: Nottinghamshire

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what ministerial visits to (a) the City of Nottingham and (b) Nottinghamshire have taken place since May 2010.

Helen Grant: The following ministerial visits have taken place since May 2010:
	
		
			 Place visited Date Minister 
			 Visit to Nottinghamshire Criminal Justice Board 9 July 2011 right hon. Kenneth Clarke 
			 Nottinghamshire Probation Trust 7 March 2011 right hon. Kenneth Clarke 
			 Visit to the Changes Project at the Nottingham Women's Centre 6 May 2011 right hon. Kenneth Clarke 
			 Visit to HMP Nottingham 9 July 2012 right hon. Kenneth Clarke 
			 Nottinghamshire Magistrates Court 4 November 2011 Crispin Blunt, Nick Herbert and Lord McNally 
			 HMP Nottingham and the Office for the Public Guardian 4 November 2011 Crispin Blunt 
			 Nottinghamshire Police Force 4 November 2011 Nick Herbert 
			 Legal Services Commission 4 November 2011 Lord McNally 
			 HMP Nottingham 1 February 2011 Crispin Blunt 
			 Legal Services Commission and Nottingham Crown and County Court 18 June 2012 Jonathan Djanogly

Child Care

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many child care places his Department provides on its estate; what the cost is of providing such places; how many such places his Department provided in 2010; what the cost was of providing such places in 2010; what plans he has for changes in the provision of such child care places; and what the number of places will be once any such changes have been implemented.

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice does not currently provide any child care places across its estate.
	Until it closed in March 2012, a maximum of 22 child care places were available at Askham Grange prison nursery. This facility was used by children of prisoners as well as, subject to availability, children from the community (including children of staff). The total cost of the nursery in 2010 was £180,569. Information relating to the number of staff whose children used the facility during this time is not held.
	Currently the Ministry of Justice offers a ‘salary sacrifice scheme’ that allows staff to receive part of their salary as child care vouchers and use these to purchase child care from an approved provider at a discounted rate. Staff can also apply for child care places at a small number of approved holiday play schemes, also at a discounted rate.

Offenders

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2012, Official Report, columns 1161-2W, on offenders, how many offenders had (a) one conviction, (b) two convictions and (c) three or more convictions for (i) a knife-related offence, (ii) a firearms-related offence and (iii) rape in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Jeremy Wright: Of the offenders in the top 10 for previous convictions; four had one previous conviction and one had three or more previous convictions for knife offences; and one offender had a previous conviction for firearms offences. None of the offenders in the top 10 for previous convictions have ever been convicted of rape.
	These figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, the police national computer, which, as with any large-scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.

Offenders: Foreign Nationals

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many foreign nationals convicted of (a) rape, (b) sexual offences against children, (c) other sexual offences and (d) a violent offence were released from prison after serving custodial sentences of (i) less than one year, (ii) between one and two years, (iii) between two and three years, (iv) between three and four years, (v) between four and five years, (vi) between five and six years, (vii) between six and seven years, (viii) between seven and eight years, (ix) between eight and nine years, (x) between nine and 10 years, (xi) between 10 and 11 years, (xii) between 11 and 12 years, (xiii) between 12 and 15 years, (xiv) between 15 and 20 years and (xv) over 20 years in 2011.

Jeremy Wright: The following table shows the number of foreign national prisoners released from determinate sentences for (a) rape, (b) other sexual offences, and (c) violence against the person offences, by detailed sentence length band in 2011. From the data held centrally, it is not possible to separately identify those offenders convicted of sexual offences against children; they are included with other sexual offences.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	
		
			 Foreign national prisoners discharged from determinate sentences, rape, other sexual offences and violence against the person, England and Wales 2011 
			  Rape Other sexual offences Violence against the person 
			 Total 101 138 1,172 
			 Less than one year 0 58 818 
			 1 years to less than 2 years 2 30 145 
			 2 years to less than 3 years 2 14 67 
			 3 years to less than 4 years 7 9 41 
			 4 years to less than 5 years 10 9 35 
			 5 years to less than 6 years 13 8 18 
			 6 years to less than 7 years 11 5 15 
			 7 years to less than 8 years 13 0 10 
			 8 years to less than 9 years 9 3 7 
			 9 years to less than 10 years 10 1 5 
			 10 years to less than 11 years 10 0 2 
			 11 years to less than 12 years 3 1 4 
			 12 years to less than 15 years 10 0 4 
			 15 years to less than 20 years 1 0 1 
			 20 years to less than life 0 0 0

Offenders: Rehabilitation

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people (a) commenced and (b) completed a Low Intensity Alcohol programme in the community in the latest year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many people (a) commenced and (b) completed a Community Drink Violence programme in the latest year for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many people (a) commenced and (b) completed an Offender Substance Abuse programme in the community in the latest year for which figures are available;
	(4)  how many people (a) commenced and (b) completed an Addressing Substance Related Offending programme in the community in the latest year for which figures are available;
	(5)  how many people (a) commenced and (b) completed a Women's Programme (Acquisitive Crime) in the community in the latest year for which figures are available.

Jeremy Wright: The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Community Accredited Programme Delivery by Programme 2011-12 
			 Programme Commencements Completions 
			 Low Intensity Alcohol Programme (LIAP) 441 364 
			 Control of Violence for Angry and Impulsive Drinkers (COVAID) 316 239 
			 Offender Substance Abuse Programme (OSAP) 325 185 
			 Addressing Substance Related Offending (ASRO) 470 329 
			 The Women's Programme 162 89 
		
	
	The figures in the table should not be used to estimate a completion rate for an individual programme: many offenders commencing during 2011-12 may actually complete in the following financial year. Likewise, a number of those completing during 2011-12 would have commenced in the previous financial year.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Olympic Games 2012

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department used the Olympic Route Network for travel for official purposes during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Helen Grant: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will publish details of Government use of tickets and hospitality in the autumn; this will include use of transport services which operated on the Olympic or Paralympic Route Networks.

Pay

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the highest paid position is in (a) his Department and (b) his Department's agencies.

Jeremy Wright: The highest salary paid position in the Ministry of Justice is the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Justice. In the Department's agencies, the chief executive officer of the National Offender Management Service is the highest paid position in the National Offender Management Service, and the chief executive of Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service is the highest paid position in Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service. The Public Guardian and chief executive of the Office of the Public Guardian is the highest paid position in the Office of the Public Guardian.

Prison Sentences

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice in what circumstances and on what basis the practice of remission of fines following a term of imprisonment is allowed.

Jeremy Wright: Courts have the discretion to remit fines following a term of imprisonment under Section 85 of the Magistrates' Court Act 1980. Under the provisions of the Act, a court has the power to remit a fine if it thinks it just to do so, having regard to a change in the offender's circumstances since the date of conviction. This includes where the offender is serving a term of imprisonment or where remission may be more practical than lodging concurrent warrants of imprisonment. If the Crown court imposed a fine, a magistrates court may remit the fine in whole or in part, but only if it first obtains the consent of the Crown court.

Prison Service

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many Prison Service principal officers (a) signed up to and (b) passed the Developing Prison Service Managers course in the last five years.

Jeremy Wright: A total of 669 Prison Service principal officers joined the Developing Prison Service Managers programme between its inception in 2009 and its conclusion in 2012. Of these, 88 completed the programme and gained accreditation as operational managers.

Prison Service

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many Prison Service principal officers who signed up to the Developing Prison Service Managers programme, but who withdrew from that programme on 31 March 2012, have since been temporarily promoted to manager.

Jeremy Wright: Of the 330 Prison Service principal officers who withdrew from the Developing Prison Service Managers programme in March 2012, 61 are currently in receipt of cover payments, (data accurate as at 31 July 2012).
	Cover payments are made to staff that are temporarily undertaking the duties of a higher grade. Operational manager vacancies are currently being advertised and recruited for internally as part of an organisational restructuring programme.

Prisoners' Release

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2011, Official Report, columns 844-50W, on prisoners' release, how many prisoners were discharged from determinate sentences for rape, other sexual offence and violence against the person in 2011; how many prisoners were discharged from determinate sentences on licence for rape, other sexual offences and violence against the person in 2011; what proportion of a sentence was served, including time on remand, on average in prison by prisoners discharged from determinate sentences for rape, other sexual offences and violence against the person in 2011; and how many offenders were recalled to custody for rape, other sexual offences and violence against the person in 2011.

Jeremy Wright: The requested information is included in the following tables.
	The first table shows the number of prisoners discharged from determinate sentences for rape, other sexual offences and violence against the person offences in 2011.
	The second table shows the number of prisoners discharged from determinate sentences on license for rape, other sexual offences and violence against the person offences in 2011.
	The third table shows the percentage of time served (including remand) in prison by prisoners discharged from determinate sentences for rape, other sexual offences and violence against the person offences in 2011.
	The fourth table shows the number of offenders recalled to custody in 2011 who had originally been convicted of rape, other sexual offences and violence against the person offences. The number of recalls in a given year should not be compared with the number of discharges in that year, because offenders will not necessarily be released and recalled in the same year.
	
		
			 Table 1: Prisoners discharged from determinate sentences for rape, other sexual offences and violence against the person, England and Wales, 2011 
			  All discharges 
			 Rape 767 
			 Other sexual offence 1,640 
			 Violence against the person 18,126 
			 Note: Data sources and quality—These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Prisoners discharged from determinate sentences on licence for rape, other sexual offences and violence against the person, England and Wales, 2011 
			  Licence discharges 
			 Rape 764 
			 Other sexual offence 1,418 
			 Violence against the person 10,213 
			 Note: Data sources and quality These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 3: Percentage of time served (including remand) in prison by prisoners discharged from determinate sentences for rape, other sexual offences and violence against the person, England and Wales, 2011 
			  Rape Other sexual offence Violence against the person 
			 Total 745 1.589 17.211 
			 Less than 50%(1) 92 176 6.990 
			 50% to less than 2/3 498 1.164 8.225 
			 2/3 or more(2) 155 249 1.996 
			 (1) This includes cases where prisoners were deported or where the prisoner was discharged on the Friday before a weekend release date. (2 )All those serving two-thirds or more of their sentence have been grouped together because their time served may include time on recall. Notes: 1. The totals in this table do not match those in table 1 because this table excludes a small proportion of cases where information on the time served is not held centrally. 2. Data sources and quality: These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 4: Number of offenders recalled to custody in 2011 for rape, other sexual offences and violence against the person. 
			  Recalled to custody 
			 Rape 210 
			 Other sexual offences 558 
			 Violence against the person 3,134 
			 Note: Date sources and quality—These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Literacy

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of criminals who have learnt to read whilst serving a non-custodial sentence in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice/National Offender Management Service does not hold the information requested.
	Offenders in the community are generally able to access the range of mainstream learning and skills services but are not separately identified for statistical purposes.
	Probation trusts have a long history of involvement in employment, training and education (ETE) work with offenders. Some ETE services are provided in-house, but most are delivered in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, the Skills Funding Agency and their providers.

Prisons and Probation Ombudsman

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many complaints were made about the Office of the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: Since 1 April 2012, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has received two complaints about the professional conduct of members of his staff. Figures for previous years were not recorded centrally. Figures for complaints raised about the outcomes of the Ombudsman's investigations are also not recorded centrally. These could be provided only at disproportionate expense.

Prisons: Television

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many televisions were removed from prisoners' cells (a) temporarily and (b) permanently in each of the last two years.

Jeremy Wright: The information requested is neither collated centrally, nor required to be recorded locally, and could be obtained only by manual checking with individual establishments, which would incur disproportionate cost.
	Televisions in cells are available as a privilege under the Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme and prisoners are charged for their use. They are a forfeitable privilege and can be withdrawn for a variety of reasons.

Probation

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what plans he has for the future of the Probation Service in England and Wales;
	(2)  whether he has identified tasks and functions of the Probation Service which will not be the subject of competitive tendering.

Jeremy Wright: On 27 March 2012 the Government published ‘Punishment and Reform: Effective Probation Services’, setting out a vision for the future of probation services. This consultation document articulated our aim to introduce effective and efficient probation services that make the best use of the innovation, capacity and diversity that can be brought by different providers.
	The consultation closed on 22 June and we received over 280 responses to our proposals. We are currently considering our approach, taking into account the wide range of views expressed. This will include the question of which probation services will not be subject to competitive tendering.

Probation

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what he considers to be the core tasks of the Probation Service.

Jeremy Wright: “The probation purposes” are listed in section 1(1) of the Offender Management Act 2007. They provide for:
	(a) courts to be given assistance in determining the appropriate sentences to pass, and making other decisions, in respect of persons charged with or convicted of offences;
	(b) authorised persons to be given assistance in determining whether conditional cautions should be given and which conditions to attach to conditional cautions;
	(c) the supervision and rehabilitation of persons charged with or convicted of offences;
	(d) the giving of assistance to persons remanded on bail;
	(e) the supervision and rehabilitation of persons to whom conditional cautions are given;
	(f) the giving of information to victims of persons charged with or convicted of offences.

Research

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on research and development in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12; and how much he plans to spend in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

Helen Grant: The Department undertakes research to enhance policy development and programme evaluations. Information on expenditure on research and development (R&D) is published in the Department's annual report and accounts. The link to our website is:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/corporate-reports/moj
	R&D expenditure for the periods 2008-09 and 2009-10 are available on pages 97 and 98 of the 2009/10 annual report. R&D expenditure for the periods 2010/11 and 2011/12 are available on pages 107 and 108 of the 2011/12 annual report.
	For the current financial year, the estimated budget is £2.9 million. We have not yet finalised our spending plans for 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Sexual Offences: Rehabilitation

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people (a) commenced and (b) completed a community sex offenders programme in the last year for which figures are available.

Jeremy Wright: In 2011-12 there were 2,125 recorded starts of Sex Offender Treatment Programmes in the community and 1,596 completions.
	The figure for starts given above may understate the total number of starts, as Cheshire and Greater Manchester probation trusts began using the national information system to record programmes data during quarter one of 2011-12.
	The above figures should not be used to estimate a completion rate for these programmes: many offenders commencing during 2011-12 may actually complete in a subsequent year; likewise, a number of those completing during 2011-12 would have commenced in a previous financial year.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cases are on the waiting list for tribunal hearings for (a) disability living allowance and (b) employment and support allowance.

Helen Grant: Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions decisions on entitlement to disability living allowance (DLA) and employment and support allowance (ESA).
	There are always a number of ‘live’ appeals at the various stages of processing before being listed for a tribunal hearing.
	As at 30 June 2012 (the most recent period for which statistics have been published) there were a total of 34,000 ‘live’ DLA appeals and 83,500 ‘live’ ESA appeals (these data are taken from management information).

Tim Larkin

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether Tim Larkin has been found guilty of a criminal offence or been the subject of a civil judgement in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Grant: Criminal records held by the police are only accessible to the data-subjects themselves, and under specific legal and administrative arrangements which enable certain organisations to have access.
	HM Courts and Tribunals Service can consider requests for court information where specific details are provided, such as the court location and the dates of any hearings. Any such request would be considered in light of relevant rules and legislation such as the Criminal or Civil Procedure Rules, the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what media or public speaking training Ministers in his Department have received since May 2010.

Helen Grant: Since May 2010, three Ministers have received media training from an external provider and three have received in-house training. The training was designed to assist them in clearly communicating the work of the Ministry of Justice to the public. No Minister has received public speaking training.

Young Offenders

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners aged 18 or over were held in the secure youth estate on 1 August (a) 2012, (b) 2011, (c) 2010 and (d) 2009.

Jeremy Wright: The following table shows the number of offenders aged 18 years or older who were held in custody with the youth secure estate (secure children's homes, secure training centres or under-18 young offender institutions) in August 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012.
	These data have been provided by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) and are based upon monthly snapshot data. The YJB receives data on the number of young people aged 18 or over from the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) weekly on Fridays only. Therefore the figures given in the following table refer to the information given to the YJB the Friday before 1 August for each year.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of people aged 18 and over held in the secure youth estate on the Friday before 1 August: 2009-12 
			  Number 
			 2009 267 
			 2010 186 
			 2011 178 
			 2012 185

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Emissions

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to announce his decision on including aviation and shipping in carbon budgets.

Gregory Barker: Emissions from domestic aviation and shipping are already included within the UK's carbon budgets. International aviation and shipping emissions are not yet included within this framework. The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey) is taking into account the advice provided by the Committee on Climate Change and will respond by end 2012 as required by Section 30 of the Climate Change Act 2008.

Carbon Emissions

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will include international aviation and shipping in carbon budgets.

Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey) is taking into account the advice provided by the Committee on Climate Change and will respond by end 2012 as required by Section 30 of the Climate Change Act 2008.

Miriam Maes

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  if he will publish copies of his Department's standard terms and conditions of contract and the required code of conduct which were sent to applicants expressing an interest in his Department's invitation to quote for the provision of consultant support for the public sector low carbon programme;
	(2)  which companies were invited to submit quotations for the provision of consultant support for public sector low carbon programme;
	(3)  what input the Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change had into his Department's decision in response to the Freedom of Information request in respect of copies of all correspondence or emails between Ministers or officials and Miriam Maes since May 2010, departmental reference 11/1477.

Edward Davey: holding answer 17 September 2012
	Miriam Maes was contracted by DECC for the period September 2010 to May 2011, following a competitive tender process. The competition was run by inviting four candidates considered to be energy efficiency experts to submit tenders. Miriam Maes and one other candidate were interviewed by civil servants. The names of the unsuccessful candidates are confidential. Civil servants made a recommendation to the Minister for Climate Change that the Department appoint Miriam Maes, which the Minister agreed. This contract was extended once on the recommendation of civil servants, with the approval of the Permanent Secretary. It is not normal procedure to ask Ministers to approve an extension of this size. Miriam Maes was provided with business cards. Business cards are used to help identify DECC members of staff and, where appropriate, contractors to the Department, and record contact details.
	Ms Maes was subsequently contracted, following a competitively tendered process for the period July 2011 to March 2012. This competition was advertised on Contracts Finder in June 2011:
	www.contractsfinder.co.uk
	Civil servants conducted the interview process, no Minister was asked to sign off the appointment. Miriam Maes has been paid £49,000 (+VAT) and has claimed £338.40 in expenses under the above contracts. Miriam attended some meetings at DECC outside of her contracted periods.
	Consultants are expected to comply with their contractual terms. A copy of Ms Maes' contract has been placed in the Library, redacted as necessary. Ms Maes notified the Department of her clients at Foresee and it is not departmental policy to publish such declarations for reasons of confidentiality.
	Miriam Maes had a departmental pass that was valid between 23 September 2010 and 31 May 2011, but was not provided with a departmental email account. The Department does not hold a central record of the occasions on which Miriam Maes was contacted by email. The Department did not contribute to the cost of Miriam Maes' mobile telephone, nor her attendance at the Conservative party conference in 2010.
	Ministers from time to time will meet external stakeholders for informal discussions. Officials did not attend the meeting on 15 February. Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published on the DECC website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/registers/ministermtgs/ministermtgs.aspx
	A record of all departmental spend above £500 is available on the DECC website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/expenditure/expenditure.aspx
	The Department has released a number of emails between Miriam Maes and the Department, and these are available on the Department's website. The Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change was informed of progress in responding to the freedom of information request and shown the material for release pre-publication. He did not make the decision in relation to this request. Some further information in this area has been requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and my Department is considering the request in accordance with the requirements of that Act. Information relating to internal discussions and advice, including that from the Permanent Secretary to Ministers on matters such as this, is not normally disclosed.

Combined Heat and Power

Phil Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to use a feed-in tariff scheme to support investment in industrial combined heat and power technology once levy exemption certificates are removed in 2013.

Gregory Barker: The Department has no plans at present to use a feed-in tariff to support investment in fossil fuel fired industrial combined heat and power (CHP). Such schemes will remain exempt from climate change levy costs on input fuel and on electricity consumed on-site after the withdrawal of levy exemption certificates. We are examining whether there is a case for further support for larger natural gas fired CHP and considering a range of potential mechanisms.
	Renewable CHP will be eligible for support via feed-in tariff contracts for difference.

Combined Heat and Power

Phil Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to increase the use of combined heat and power; and what comparative assessment he has made of levels of industrial combined heat and power use in the UK and other EU member states.

Gregory Barker: The Government support increased deployment of renewable combined heat and power (CHP) via the renewables obligation and we are currently consulting on expanding the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive scheme, including a specific tariff for heat from renewable CHP.
	Fossil fuel fired CHP benefits from exemption from the climate change levy on input fuel and output electricity consumed on-site. Smaller fossil fuel CHP schemes will benefit from the proposed changes to the carbon reduction commitment and the exemption from carbon price support costs for CHP below 2 MW. As indicated in my response to question 121953, we are examining the case for further forms of support.
	We have examined deployment of, and support regimes for, fossil fuel fired CHP in other EU member states, in particular drawing on the EU Code project and IEA Country Scorecards. On average, across the EU, CHP contributes 11% to electrical generating capacity, compared to 7% in the UK. We are currently updating our estimates of UK potential CHP capacity.

Commercial Director

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what role the Minister for Climate Change had in the appointment of his Department’s commercial director.

Edward Davey: DECC Ministers did not have a role in the appointment of the commercial director.

Electricity: Meters

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on the national roll-out of home automation systems as part of a UK smart grid.

John Hayes: There is no specific policy objective for a national roll-out of home automation systems. However, the Smart Meter Programme will help support home automation systems by facilitating the uptake of a range of devices, including smart appliances and advanced heating controls, while we are exploring how other Government delivery programmes including Green Deal could provide further support.

Energy Company Obligation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to ensure that households receiving assistance through the Affordable Warmth element of the Energy Company Obligation benefit from the most appropriate package of heating and insulation measures for their circumstances. [R]

Gregory Barker: The Affordable Warmth element of the Energy Company Obligation has been designed to ensure that suppliers will deliver cost-effective measures to help reduce heating costs to low income and vulnerable households.
	Our analysis, set out in the impact assessment published alongside the response to the Green Deal and ECO consultation, indicates that obligated suppliers will focus on delivery of heating systems and basic insulation. Such measures will make the largest improvement in the ability of low income households to heat their homes effectively. The Affordable Warmth scoring mechanism recognises the impact of measures over their lifetime.
	In addition, we are working to provide a referrals mechanism from the Energy Saving Advice Service to help eligible customers access assistance from suppliers.

Energy Company Obligation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to introduce procedures or mechanisms to (a) enable third-party referrals of eligible households to the Affordable Warmth scheme and (b) ensure that any such referrals meet with a positive and proportionate response; and if he will publish, in the first year of the energy company obligation, information on third-party referrals to the Affordable Warmth programme, including data on measures subsequently installed. [R]

Gregory Barker: The Government are working to provide a referrals mechanism of eligible households from the Energy Saving Advice Service to participating energy suppliers to help improve access to the assistance available under the Affordable Warmth element of the energy company obligation. Households will need to give their consent for this referral to take place, but the call to ESAS could be initiated by a third party. The proposal for a referrals mechanism was included in the green deal and ECO consultation and was welcomed by the majority of respondents on that issue.
	As part of this mechanism, the Government are seeking an agreement with energy suppliers over how the referrals will be handled to ensure a high level of customer service.
	Information on the measures installed under ECO will be collected by Ofgem.

Procurement

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  when and where each of the contracts his Department awarded to Foresee Ltd were advertised;
	(2)  who (a) applied and (b) was interviewed for each of the contracts his Department awarded to Foresee Ltd;
	(3)  whether Miriam Maes was formally interviewed for each of the two contracts she secured with his Department;
	(4)  how much was claimed in expenses by Miriam Maes during her time as a consultant to his Department;
	(5)  pursuant to the answer of 13 September 2012, Official Report, column 316W, on procurement, which Minister in his Department signed off the contract with Foresee Ltd.

Edward Davey: Miriam Maes was contracted by DECC for the period September 2010 to May 2011, following a competitive tender process. The competition was run by inviting four candidates considered to be energy efficiency experts to submit tenders. Miriam Maes and one other candidate were interviewed by civil servants. The names of the unsuccessful candidates are confidential. Civil servants made a recommendation to the Minister for Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle (Gregory Barker), that the Department appoint Miriam Maes, which the Minister agreed to. This contract was extended once on the recommendation of civil servants, with the approval of the permanent secretary. It is not normal procedure to ask Ministers to approve an extension of this size. Miriam Maes was provided with business cards. Business cards are used to help identify DECC members of staff and, where appropriate, contractors to the Department, and record contact details.
	Ms Maes was subsequently contracted, following a competitively tendered process for the period July 2011 to March 2012. This competition was advertised on Contracts Finder in June 2011 at:
	www.contractsfinder.co.uk
	Civil servants conducted the interview process and no Minister was asked to sign off the appointment. Miriam Maes has been paid £49,000 (+VAT) and has claimed £338.40 in expenses under the above contracts. Miriam attended some meetings at DECC outside of her contracted periods.
	Consultants are expected to comply with their contractual terms. A copy of Ms Maes’ contract has been placed in the Library, redacted as necessary. Ms Maes notified the Department of her clients at Foresee and it is not departmental policy to publish such declarations for reasons of confidentiality.
	Miriam Maes had a departmental pass that was valid between 23 September 2010 and 31 May 2011 but was not provided with a departmental e-mail account. The Department does not hold a central record of the occasions on which Miriam Maes was contacted by e-mail. The Department did not contribute to the cost of Miriam Maes’ mobile telephone, nor her attendance at the Conservative party conference in 2010.
	Ministers from time to time will meet external stakeholders for informal discussions. Officials did not attend the meeting on 15 February. Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are published on the DECC website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/registers/ministermtgs/ministermtgs.aspx
	A record of all departmental spend above £500 is available on the DECC website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/expenditure/expenditure.aspx
	The Department has released a number of e-mails between Miriam Maes and the Department, and these are available on the Department’s website. The Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change was informed of progress in responding to the freedom of information request and shown the material for release pre-publication. He did not make the decision in relation to this request. Some further information in this area has been requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and my Department is considering the request in accordance with the requirements of that Act. Information relating to internal discussions and advice, including that from the permanent secretary to Ministers on matters such as this, is not normally disclosed.

Fuel Poverty

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of households taken out of fuel poverty as a result of heating and insulation measures installed under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target. [R]

Gregory Barker: The Government estimated that the impact of the Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) would be to sustainably remove around 163,000 households from fuel poverty from 2008 to 2011; and that, under the CERT extension to the end of 2012, around 185,000 households would receive measures to provide a long-term solution to fuel poverty. These estimates were published in the following reports:
	CERT
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/about-us/Science/3149-estimating-effect-cert.pdf
	CERT extension
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/meeting-energy-demand/international-energy/2289-uk-report-eu-enduse-esd.pdf

Fuel Poverty

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the performance of (a) the Priority Group and (b) the Super Priority Group elements of the carbon emissions reduction target in reducing fuel poverty; and what proportion of households receiving assistance through the Priority Group element were required to make a financial contribution towards the cost of the work. [R]

Gregory Barker: The Government estimated that the impact of the carbon emission reduction target (CERT) would be to sustainably remove around 163,000 households from fuel poverty from 2008 to 2011; and that, under the CERT extension to the end of 2012 which introduced the CERT Super Priority Group, around 185,000 households would receive measures to provide a long-term solution to fuel poverty.
	These estimates were published in the following reports:
	CERT:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/about-us/Science/3149-estimating-effect-cert.pdf
	CERT Extension:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/meeting-energy-demand/international-energy/2289-uk-report-eu-enduse-esd.pdf
	Energy suppliers are not required to submit information on the cost of the work they carry out under CERT and therefore we are not able to provide an estimate of the proportion of households receiving assistance through the Priority Group element who were required to make a financial contribution towards the cost of the work. The Government have taken powers to require energy suppliers to report on the cost of measures under the forthcoming energy company obligation.

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether councils that do not register as Green Deal providers will be able to access the ECO brokerage mechanism.

Gregory Barker: We are currently considering whether access to sell ECO delivery on the ECO brokerage system should be limited to Green Deal providers or opened to some other parties, provided sufficient accreditation requirements and other protections can be put in place.
	Councils will be able to access ECO funding by contracting directly with obligated energy suppliers, or by contracting with a registered Green Deal provider who has such a contract.

Infrastructure

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to the National Infrastructure Plan 2011, whether community benefit will be available to communities that are affected by a new nuclear development hosted by a neighbouring authority.

John Hayes: The Department is currently considering proposals for a community benefit package for communities hosting new nuclear. Details of any decisions will be made available by the end of 2012.

Infrastructure

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to the National Infrastructure Plan 2011, what plans are in place for achieving community benefit for communities affected by Hinkley Point C.

John Hayes: Plans for a community benefit package for sites that host new nuclear power stations are currently under consideration. The National Infrastructure Plan committed Government to bring forward proposals by the end of 2012.

Miriam Maes

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  how much Miriam Maes has been paid by his Department since May 2010;
	(2)  when Miriam Maes' departmental staff pass (a) was issued and (b) expired;
	(3)  when Miriam Maes' contract with his Department (a) started and (b) ended;
	(4)  which Minister approved the extension of Miriam Maes' contract;
	(5)  if he will place in the Library copies of all correspondence and emails between (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers and Miriam Maes since 3 November 2011;
	(6)  whether (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers in his Department were notified of Miriam Maes' clients at Foresee;
	(7)  whether Miriam Maes was (a) invited or (b) attended meetings with (i) Ministers, (ii) officials and (iii) special advisers prior to her engagement by his Department;
	(8)  if he will place in the Library a copy of Miriam Maes' contract with his Department;
	(9)  if he will place a copy of Miriam Maes' weekly update emails to his Department between (a) September 2010 and May 2011 and (b) July 2011 and March 2012 in the Library;
	(10)  whether Miriam Maes was employed by his Department in any capacity since May 2011;
	(11)  whether the post of Delivery Adviser to his Department on energy efficiency was advertised prior to the appointment of Miriam Maes.

Edward Davey: Miriam Maes was contracted by DECC for the period September 2010 to May 2011, following a competitive tender process. The competition was run by inviting four candidates considered to be energy efficiency experts to submit tenders. Miriam Maes and one other candidate were interviewed by civil servants. The names of the unsuccessful candidates are confidential. Civil servants made a recommendation to the Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle (Gregory Barker), that the Department appoint Miriam Maes, which the Minister agreed to. This contract was extended once on the recommendation of civil servants, with the approval of the Permanent Secretary. It is not normal procedure to ask Ministers to approve an extension of this size. Miriam Maes was provided with business cards. Business cards are used to help identify DECC members of staff and, where appropriate, contractors to the Department, and record contact details.
	Ms Maes was subsequently contracted, following a competitively tendered process, for the period July 2011 to March 2012. This competition was advertised on Contracts Finder in June 2011
	www.contractsfinder.co.uk
	Civil servants conducted the interview process and no Minister was asked to sign off the appointment. Miriam Maes has been paid £49,000 (+VAT) and has claimed £338.40 in expenses under the above contracts. Miriam attended some meetings at DECC outside of her contracted periods.
	Consultants are expected to comply with their contractual terms. A copy of Ms Maes' contract has been placed in the Library, redacted as necessary. Ms Maes notified the Department of her clients at Foresee and it is not departmental policy to publish such declarations for reasons of confidentiality.
	Miriam Maes had a departmental pass that was valid between 23 September 2010 and 31 May 2011 but was not provided with a departmental email account. The Department does not hold a central record of the occasions on which Miriam Maes was contacted by email. The Department did not contribute to the cost of Miriam Maes' mobile telephone, nor her attendance at the Conservative Party Conference in 2010.
	Ministers from time to time will meet external stakeholders for informal discussions. Officials did not attend the meeting on 15 February 2012. Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published on the DECC website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/registers/ministermtgs/ministermtgs.aspx
	A record of all departmental spend above £500 is available on the DECC website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/expenditure/expenditure.aspx
	The Department has released a number of emails between Miriam Maes and the Department, and these are available on the Department's website. The Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change was informed of progress in responding to the freedom of information request and shown the material for release pre-publication. He did not make the decision in relation to this request. Some further information in this area has been requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and my Department is considering the request in accordance with the requirements of that Act. Information relating to internal discussions and advice, including that from the Permanent Secretary to Ministers on matters such as this, is not normally disclosed.

Miriam Maes

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what the (a) terms of reference, (b) evidence examined, (c) length of time and (d) findings were of the examination by his Department's Permanent Secretary of Miriam Maes' employment;
	(2)  who attended the 6.00 pm meeting between Miriam Maes and the Minister of State for Climate Change on 15 February 2011 at the Royal Horse Guards Hotel; what the agenda was of the meeting; and which officials from his Department were present to minute the meeting;
	(3)  whether there have been any email exchanges between the Minister of State for Climate Change and Miriam Maes relating to departmental activities that were sent or received from non-departmental email addresses; and if he will publish any such correspondence.

Edward Davey: Miriam Maes was contracted by DECC for the period September 2010 to May 2011, following a competitive tender process. The competition was run by inviting four candidates considered to be energy efficiency experts to submit tenders. Miriam Maes and one other candidate were interviewed by civil servants, The names of the unsuccessful candidates are confidential. Civil servants made a recommendation to the Minister for Climate Change that the Department appoint Miriam Maes, which the Minister agreed to. This contract was extended once on the recommendation of civil servants, with the approval of the Permanent Secretary. It is not normal procedure to ask Ministers to approve an extension of this size. Miriam Maes was provided with business cards. Business cards are used to help identify DECC members of staff and, where appropriate, contractors to the Department, and record contact details.
	Ms Maes was subsequently contracted, following a competitively tendered process for the period July 2011 to March 2012. This competition was advertised on Contracts Finder in June 2011:
	www.contractsfinder.co.uk
	Civil servants conducted the interview process and no Minister was asked to sign off the appointment. Miriam Maes has been paid £49,000 (+VAT) and has claimed £338.40 in expenses under the above contracts. Miriam attended some meetings at DECC outside of her contracted periods.
	Consultants are expected to comply with their contractual terms. A copy of Ms Maes' contract has been placed in the Library, redacted as necessary. Ms Maes notified the Department of her clients at Foresee and it is not departmental policy to publish such declarations for reasons of confidentiality.
	Miriam Maes had a departmental pass that was valid between 23 September 2010 and 31 May 2011, but was not provided with a departmental email account. The Department does not hold a central record of the occasions on which Miriam Maes was contacted by email. The Department did not contribute to the cost of Miriam Maes' mobile telephone, nor her attendance at the Conservative party conference in 2010.
	Ministers from time to time will meet external stakeholders for informal discussions. Officials did not attend the meeting on 15 February. Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published on the DECC website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/registers/ministermtgs/ministermtgs.aspx
	A record of all departmental spend above £500 is available on the DECC website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/expenditure/expenditure.aspx
	The Department has released a number of emails between Miriam Maes and the Department, and these are available on the Department's website. The Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change was informed of progress in responding to the freedom of information request and shown the material for release pre-publication. He did not make the decision in relation to this request. Some further information in this area has been requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and my Department is considering the request in accordance with the requirements of that Act. Information relating to internal discussions and advice, including that from the Permanent Secretary to Ministers on matters such as this, is not normally disclosed.

Miriam Maes

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  whether his Department funded any part of the attendance of Miriam Maes at the Conservative party conference in 2010;
	(2)  what his Department's policy is on the use of business e-mail addresses on departmental business cards;
	(3)  on how many occasions Ministers in his Department contacted Miriam Maes via an e-mail account held by Foresee Ltd while she was a delivery adviser to his Department;
	(4)  whether his Department contributed to the cost of Miriam Maes' mobile telephone number ending 670, which appeared on her departmental business card and her Foresee Ltd business card;
	(5)  what funding Ministers in his Department have approved for any company which was a client of Miriam Maes or Foresee Ltd since May 2010;
	(6)  what meetings Ministers in his Department have had with any company which was a client of Miriam Maes or Foresee Ltd since May 2010.

Edward Davey: Miriam Maes was contracted by DECC for the period September 2010 to May 2011, following a competitive tender process. The competition was run by inviting four candidates considered to be energy efficiency experts to submit tenders. Miriam Maes and one other candidate were interviewed by civil servants. The names of the unsuccessful candidates are confidential. Civil servants made a recommendation to the Minister for Climate Change that the Department appoint Miriam Maes, which the Minister agreed. This contract was extended once on the recommendation of civil servants, with the approval of the permanent secretary.
	It is not normal procedure to ask Ministers to approve an extension of this size. Miriam Maes was provided with business cards. Business cards are used to help identify DECC members of staff and, where appropriate, contractors to the Department, and record contact details.
	Ms Maes was subsequently contracted, following a competitively tendered process for the period July 2011 to March 2012. This competition was advertised on Contracts Finder in June 2011
	www.contractsfinder.co.uk
	Civil servants conducted the interview process and no Minister was asked to sign off the appointment. Miriam Maes has been paid £49,000 (+VAT) and has claimed £338.40 in expenses under the above contracts. Miriam attended some meetings at DECC outside of her contracted periods.
	Consultants are expected to comply with their contractual terms. A copy of Ms Maes' contract has been placed in the Library, redacted as necessary. Ms Maes notified the Department of her clients at Foresee and it is not departmental policy to publish such declarations for reasons of confidentiality.
	Miriam Maes had a departmental pass that was valid between 23 September 2010 and 31 May 2011 but was not provided with a departmental e-mail account. The Department does not hold a central record of the occasions on which Miriam Maes was contacted by e-mail. The Department did not contribute to the cost of Miriam Maes' mobile telephone, nor her attendance at the Conservative party conference in 2010.
	Ministers from time to time will meet external stakeholders for informal discussions. Officials did not attend the meeting on 15 February. Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published on the DECC website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/registers/ministermtgs/ministermtgs.aspx
	A record of all departmental spend above £500 is available on the DECC website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/expenditure/expenditure.aspx
	The Department has released a number of e-mails between Miriam Maes and the Department, and these are available on the Department's website. The Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change was informed of progress in responding to the freedom of information request and shown the material for release pre-publication. He did not make the decision in relation to this request. Some further information in this area has been requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and my Department is considering the request in accordance with the requirements of that Act. Information relating to internal discussions and advice, including that from the permanent secretary to Ministers on matters such as this, is not normally disclosed.

Morecambe and Lunesdale: Funding

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what funding his Department has allocated to Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency since 2010.

Gregory Barker: The Department does not record information on the basis of the constituency to which funding has been allocated. To establish this information would involve manually reviewing all supplier and grant payments and agreements made by the Department, which would incur disproportionate costs.

Nuclear Power

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the (a) dates, (b) agendas and (c) attendees were of the Nuclear Technology and Innovation Needs Assessment workshops held since May 2010.

John Hayes: Two Nuclear Technology and Innovation Needs Assessment workshops have been held since May 2010, on 9 March 2012 and 25 May 2012.
	The agenda for the events covered the following themes:
	deployment scenarios, assumptions and cost information;
	current UK research and UK business strengths/comparative advantage;
	overview of international situation and opportunities;
	market barriers to innovation;
	key innovation needs and improvement potential; and
	potential programme ideas.
	Attendees at the events were from the following organisations:
	Government Office for Science
	Dalton Nuclear Institute
	IDM Solutions
	Nuclear Industry Association
	EDF Energy
	Rolls-Royce
	National Nuclear Laboratory
	Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
	Office for Nuclear Development, DECC
	Ofgem
	Department for Business Innovation and Skills
	Welsh Government
	Cambridge University
	SIG
	EPSRC
	Carbon Trust
	Imperial College
	TSB
	Serco Energy
	Sellafield Ltd
	Lloyd's Register Group.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has commissioned analysis of international examples of community benefit models for nuclear power; and whether he plans to draw on any such models in formulating future policy on nuclear power.

John Hayes: International models have been examined and considered as part of the process for developing proposals on community benefits for sites that host new nuclear power stations in the UK.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on how many occasions he and officials in his Department have met with their counterparts in (a) the Department for Communities and Local Government, (b) HM Treasury, (c) the Cabinet Office and (d) other departments to discuss the issue of (i) community benefits and (ii) business rate retention for new build nuclear projects.

John Hayes: Ministers have discussed this issue with counterparts from other interested Departments at Cabinet Committee discussions of Infrastructure and the Growth and Localism agendas. There has also been a series of regular and ad hoc meetings between officials over the last eight months with the aim of bringing forward proposals for community benefits for sites that host new nuclear power stations by the end of 2012.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on how many occasions he and officials in his Department have (a) met with representatives of and (b) visited local communities affected by the proposed Hinkley Point C development.

John Hayes: Since the original public consultation in 2007, which led to the publication of the Nuclear White Paper in 2008, officials from my Department have made a series of visits to the Hinkley Point area to meet representatives of interested parties, including four visits in the last few months. We intend that these contacts should continue and have established a Strategic Development Forum to facilitate this.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his Department's policy is on (a) community benefits and (b) business rate retention for new-build nuclear projects.

John Hayes: Proposals on community benefits for sites that host new nuclear power stations are currently under consideration.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and (b) the Chancellor of the Exchequer on community benefit for new nuclear power.

John Hayes: Ministers have discussed this issue with counterparts from other interested Departments at Cabinet Committee discussions of Infrastructure and the Growth and Localism agendas.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what work his Department has undertaken to take forward the proposals of the Science and Technology Committee in its report “Devil's bargain: Energy risks and the public” for the use of partnership models and community benefits in the new nuclear build process.

John Hayes: The Department is currently developing proposals for community benefits for sites that host new nuclear power stations; these proposals are being developed in consideration of the recommendations of the Science and Technology Committee report.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to page 62 of the National Infrastructure Plan 2011, what steps his Department is taking to bring forward proposals by 2012 for reform of the community benefit regime with regard to nuclear power.

John Hayes: The Department has analysed overseas examples of community benefit regimes, developed different scenarios and had a number of discussions with colleagues in HM Treasury, the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Cabinet Office to bring forward proposals on community benefit by the end of 2012.

Research

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on research and development in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12; and how much he plans to spend in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

Gregory Barker: The departmental spend, excluding its non-departmental public bodies, on research and development for the period 2008-12 is as follows:
	(a) 2008-09: £33 million
	(b) 2009-10: £23 million
	(c) 2010-11: £69 million
	(d) 2011-12: £20 million.
	The significant increase in the year 2010-11 relates to the Government-awarded funding to E.ON UK and the Scottish Power CCS Consortium to carry out front-end engineering and design (FEED) studies as part of the procurement process for the UK's first commercial scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration project. The FEED programme came to an end in 2011 (FY 2010-11).
	DECC has published this information in the Department's Annual Report and Accounts for successive years 2008-09 to 2011-12, copies of which have been deposited in the House of Commons Library as follows:
	HC Paper 209 (2009-10)—page 77, including re-stated 2008-09 figures.
	HC Paper 1009 (2010-11)—page 98.
	HC Paper 63 (2011-12)—pages 119 to 120 (core Department figures).
	For spending in 2012-15, DECC is in the process of developing detailed business plans, and figures are not yet available.

Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 13 September 2012, Official Report, column 318W, on training, which (a) company provided and (b) Minister received the training;
	(2)  what media or public speaking training Ministers in his Department have received since May 2010.

Gregory Barker: Electric Airwaves provided refresher media training for the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey) on 31 July 2012.

HEALTH

Abortion

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects his Department to publish the public consultation on counselling and elective terminations of pregnancy; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The Department is continuing to work on this issue.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) absolute and (b) percentage change was in the number of (i) accident and emergency attendances and (ii) accident and emergency admissions at each English acute hospital trust in the last (A) 12 months for which figures are available and (B) five-year period.

Anna Soubry: Information about the absolute and percentage change in the number of accident and emergency attendances at each English acute hospital trust in each of the last five years has been placed in the Library.
	This includes data for full year 2011-12, which is the last 12 months for which figures are available.
	Patients are not admitted to accident and emergency departments; though they may be admitted to other hospital departments following an attendance at an accident and emergency department. Statistics for admissions to accident and emergency departments are therefore not available.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients transported to accident and emergency hospitals by ambulance from the London Ambulance Service waited in the ambulance for more than (a) 15 minutes, (b) 30 minutes and (c) 45 minutes before admittance to accident and emergency in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to approach the London Ambulance Service.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people waited more than (a) two and (b) four hours in accident and emergency departments at (i) Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals, (ii) Great Ormond Street, (iii) Imperial College Healthcare Trust, (iv) Kingston Hospital NHS Trust, (v) Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust and (vi) Newham University Hospital NHS Trust in (A) 2010-11 and (B) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The total numbers of accident and emergency (A&E) attendances during 2010-11 for the trusts covering the specified hospitals is shown in the following table, together with figures showing duration to departure. There are no A&E facilities at Great Ormond Street hospital. Data for 2011-12 are not yet available.
	
		
			 2010-11 
			  Duration to departure 
			 Trust name Total accident and emergency attendances 0 to 120 minutes to departure 121 to 240 minutes to departure Over 240 minutes Unknown 
			 Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust 140,200 65,176 70,943 4,077 4 
			 Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust 181,770 72,377 89,066 20,137 190 
			 Kingston Hospitals NHS Trust 109,717 44,609 62,678 2,430 — 
			 Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust 112,960 50,853 60,091 2,016 — 
			 Newham University Hospitals NHS Trust 102,729 37,055 61,484 4,190 — 
			 Notes: 1. Activity at A&E departments is recorded as the number of attendances. Please note that an individual person may attend the same or different A&E departments within any given year and therefore this does not represent the number of patients. 2. The total amount of time spent in the A&E department is calculated as the difference in time from arrival at A&E to the time when the patient is discharged from A&E care. This includes being admitted to hospital, died in the department, discharged with no follow up or discharged/referred to another specialist department. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics collated by the NHS Information Centre.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people waited more than (a) two hours and (b) four hours in accident and emergency at (i) North Middlesex University Hospital, (ii) North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, (iii) Royal Free Hampstead Hospital, (iv) Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and (v) South London Healthcare NHS Trust in (A) 2010-11 and (B) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The total numbers of accident and emergency (A&E) attendances during 2010-11 for the trusts covering the specified hospitals is shown in the following table, together with figures showing duration to departure. There are no A&E facilities at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. Data for 2011-12 are not yet available.
	
		
			 2010-11 
			  Duration to Departure 
			 Trust name Total A&E attendances 0 to 120 minutes to departure 121 to 240 minutes to departure Over 240 minutes Unknown 
			 North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 136,876 40,725 91,956 4,193 2 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 172,300 64,112 98,536 9,652 — 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 86,383 33,323 47,588 5,472 — 
		
	
	
		
			 South London Healthcare NHS Trust 226,856 84,779 121,540 20,477 60 
			 Notes: 1. Activity at A&E departments is recorded as the number of attendances. Please note that an individual person may attend the same or different A&E departments within any given year and therefore this does not represent the number of patients. 2. The total amount of time spent in the A&E department is calculated as the difference in time from arrival at A&E to the time when the patient is discharged from A&E care. This includes being admitted to hospital, died in the department, discharged with no follow up or discharged—referred to another specialist department. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics collated by the NHS Information Centre

Accident and Emergency Departments: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people waited more than (a) two hours and (b) four hours in accident and emergency at (i) St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, (ii) West Middlesex University Hospital, (iii) Whipps Cross University Hospital and (iv) Whittington Hospital NHS Trust in (A) 2010-11 and (B) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The number of attendances at accident and emergency for the specified providers by the duration to departure for each attendance in 2010-11 is shown in the following table. Data for 2011-12 are not yet available and will be published in due course.
	
		
			 Trust Total 0 to 120 minutes 121 to 240 minutes >240 minutes Unknown 
			 St George's Healthcare NHS Trust 117,577 31,322 81,232 4,994 29 
			 West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 105,617 39,216 64,031 2,370 0 
			 Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust 110,977 37,164 68,518 5,109 186 
			 Whittington Hospital NHS Trust 84,481 18,838 63,122 2,520 1 
			 Notes: 1. Activity at Accident and Emergency Departments is recorded as the number of attendances. Please note that an individual person may attend the same or different A&E departments within any given year and therefore this does not represent the number of patients. 2. Duration to Departure represents the total amount of time spent in the Accident and Emergency department. This is calculated as the difference in time from arrival at A&E to the time when the patient is discharged from A&E care. This includes being admitted to hospital, died in the department, discharged with no follow up or discharged—referred to another specialist department. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs

Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the initial scoping report from the University of Manchester on the Payment by Results for Recovery Pilot Programme will be available.

Anna Soubry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Guildford (Anne Milton), on 4 September 2012, Official Report, column 307W, to the hon. Member for Batley and Spen (Mike Wood).

Ambulance Services

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of ambulances in each NHS trust are staffed by trained paramedics.

Anna Soubry: This information is not centrally collected.

Ambulance Services

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the staffing level was for each ambulance trust (a) in May 2010 and (b) at the latest period for which figures are available.

Anna Soubry: The number of ambulance staff by trust in May 2010 and May 2012 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 NHS Hospital and Community Health Service (HCHS) monthly workforce statistics provisional statistics: Non-medical staff in ambulance trusts in England by, main staff group and by organisation as at 31 May each specified year 
			  East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust London Ambulance Service NHS Trust North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust 
			  May 2010 May 2012 May 2010 May 2012 May 2010 May 2012 May 2010 May 2012 May 2010 May 2012 May 2010 May 2012 
			 All Non-Medical staff 3,331 3,260 3,964 3,951 1,568 1,749 4,927 4,701 2,094 2,135 5,233 5,102 
			              
			 Professionally qualified clinical staff 1,597 1,591 1,866 1,794 732 800 3,280 3,036 734 778 2,635 2,720 
		
	
	
		
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 24 34 19 19 5 1 0 0 12 22 0 0 
			 Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Qualified ambulance service staff 1,574 1,557 1,847 1,775 727 799 3,280 3,036 722 756 2,635 2,720 
			              
			 Support to clinical staff 1,379 1,354 1,638 1,643 673 788 1,054 1,052 1,118 1,095 2,102 1,889 
			 Support to doctors and nursing staff 20 28 0 0 2 0 0 0 4 4 13 12 
			 Support to ST&T staff 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 48 28 2 0 
			 Support to ambulance staff 1,359 1,326 1,638 1,643 671 788 1,054 1,052 1,066 1,063 2,088 1,878 
			              
			 NHS infra structure support 349 310 462 520 157 156 594 616 234 257 492 488 
			 Central functions 130 95 342 392 66 93 364 378 149 148 192 191 
			 Hotel, property and estates 65 40 1 1 18 16 87 93 2 0 72 49 
			 Managers and senior managers 155 175 119 127 73 47 143 145 83 110 228 248 
			              
			 Other staff or those with unknown classification 7 6 2 1 6 6 0 0 6 7 7 7 
		
	
	
		
			  South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 
			  May 2010 May 2012 May 2010 May 2012 May 2010 May 2012 May 2010 May 2012 May 2010 May 2012 
			 All Non-Medical staff 2,379 2,453 3,069 2,990 2,408 2,433 3,846 3,695 3,874 4,057 
			            
			 Professionally qualified clinical staff 1,023 1,151 1,787 1,737 1,296 1,244 1,771 2,157 1,744 1,729 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 31 44 0 0 27 23 3 4 4 3 
			 Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 
			 Qualified ambulance service staff 991 1,107 1,786 1,736 1,269 1,221 1,767 2,152 1,739 1,725 
			            
			 Support to clinical staff 1,104 1,114 821 843 898 959 1,577 1,148 1,748 1,772 
			 Support to doctors and nursing staff 32 43 0 0 28 21 0 0 1 2 
			 Support to ST&T staff 0 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Support to ambulance staff 1,072 1,058 821 843 870 938 1,577 1,148 1.746 1,769 
			            
			 NHS infra structure support 255 193 475 426 216 ¦239 492 386 380 555 
		
	
	
		
			 Central functions 70 86 261 232 130 155 276 276 211 325 
			 Hotel, property and estates 39 35 61 64 38 38 57 45 84 91 
			 Managers and senior managers 146 72 153 130 48 46 159 65 85 139 
			            
			 Other staff or those with unknown classification 2 0 7 7 0 0 6 6 6 7 
			 Notes: 1. Headcount totals are unlikely to equal the sum of components. The new headcount methodology from 2010 onwards is not fully comparable with previous years data due to improvements that make it a more stringent count of absolute staff numbers. Further information on the headcount methodology is available in the Census publication here: http://www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/publications/010_Workforce/nhsstaff0010/Census_Bulletin_March_2011_Final.pdf 2. Monthly data: Issues are uncovered and resolved. The monthly workforce data is not directly comparable with the annual workforce census; it only includes those staff on the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) (ie it does not include Primary care staff or Bank staff), it also includes locum doctors (not counted in the annual census). There are also new methods of presenting data (headcount methodology is different and there is now a role count). This information is available from September 2009 onwards at the following website: www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/provisionalmonthlyhchsworkforce 3. Data Quality: The Health and Social Care Information Centre seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses. Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre Provisional Monthly Workforce Statistics

Autism

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) he, (b) the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence or (c) the National Commissioning Board will monitor progress towards implementation of the autism clinical guideline.

Norman Lamb: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its clinical guideline to the national health service on diagnosis and management of autistic spectrum conditions in adults in June 2012. This is a huge step forward to help embed the needs of adults with autism into the health and social care system.
	Departmental officials will promote these guidelines as part of the work programme associated with Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives, the strategy for adults with autism in England, and will work with the Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health to develop a best practice guide for autism to support implementation of the statutory and NICE guidance.

Bacterial Diseases: Research

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department has provided for research into drug resistant bacterium in the latest period for which figures are available; which organisations have received such funding; and if he will list the annual amounts.

Daniel Poulter: The Department funds a wide range of research on antimicrobial resistance and related issues concerning the prevention, detection, diagnosis, control and management of infection. This research is funded through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the Department's Policy Research Programme.
	The Department currently provides funding for health protection research at the Health Protection Agency through the NIHR Centre for Health Protection Research (CHPR). In 2011-12, the CHPR spent £1.2 million on projects relevant to antimicrobial resistance.
	The Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre has an infection research theme with £4 million funding over five years. Research on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major focus of the theme. There are also research themes on infection at the Imperial NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University College London.
	The NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme is funding a range of projects on health care-associated infection including a £0.4 million study at Queen Mary, University of London on the cost-effectiveness of genetic markers for antibiotic resistance in tuberculosis.
	Currently-funded research training awards in infection include a £0.2 million fellowship at University College London on reducing hospital acquired infections due to antibiotic resistant gram negative organisms.

Bisphenol A

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission a review of the health effects on children, pregnant women and cancer sufferers of low dose exposure to Bisphenol A.

Anna Soubry: We are advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that in its view and in line with international scientific consensus, low dose exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) from food contact materials does not represent a health risk to consumers, including potentially vulnerable groups. This is based on the most recent scientific evaluation by independent experts who advise the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The FSA is therefore not undertaking a review of its own.
	The EFSA is currently undertaking a new risk assessment of BPA used in food contact materials, focusing in particular on the exposure of potentially vulnerable groups. The assessment will also consider whether there are low dose effects of BPA. This work is scheduled for completion in May 2013.
	The FSA will study this opinion in detail and take appropriate measures, if necessary, in the interests of consumer safety.

Bisphenol A

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to phase out the use of Bisphenol A from food and drink applications.

Anna Soubry: The European Union already bans the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in polycarbonate baby bottles for infants up to 12 months of age.
	We are advised that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) sees no basis for further phasing out the use of BPA from food and drink applications.
	In line with other international scientific opinions, the FSA's view is that exposure to BPA from food contact materials does not represent a food safety concern for consumers.
	The European Food Safety Authority has been asked to undertake a new risk assessment of BPA used in food contact materials, focusing in particular on the exposure of potentially vulnerable groups. The FSA will keep any new evidence on the safety of BPA under review and will revise its opinion if necessary, should the balance of evidence change.

Blood Diseases

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with ambulance trusts on steps to introduce screening for sepsis.

Anna Soubry: Ambulance Service Clinical Practice Guidelines are produced by the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee (JRCALC). The use of these guidelines and the introduction of new clinical protocols is a matter for individual national health service ambulance trusts.

Blood Diseases

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulance trusts in England provide sepsis screening in ambulances.

Anna Soubry: This information is not centrally collected.

Cancer: Drugs

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of (a) the number of patients receiving drugs provided through the Cancer Drugs Fund and (b) the amount of funding remaining in the Cancer Drugs Fund.

Norman Lamb: Information on the number of patients who have received cancer drugs under the interim cancer drugs funding arrangements in 2010-11 (from October 2010 to the end of March 2011) and under the Cancer Drugs Fund (in 2011-12 and 2012-13 to the end of July 2012) is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of patients funded(1) 
			 October 2010 to end March 2011 2,780 
			 April 2011 to end March 2012 11,798 
			 April 2012 to end July 2012 6,760 
			 Total 21,338 
			 (1) Some individual patients may be double-counted where a patient has received more than one drug treatment through the Cancer Drugs Fund. Source: Information supplied to the Department by strategic health authorities. 
		
	
	Funding for the Cancer Drugs Fund for 2012-13 comprises £140 million allocated to strategic health authorities (SHAs) and £60 million held by the Department for allocation in-year as required. £47.5 million of the £140 million allocated to SHAs in 2012-13 had been spent by the end of July 2012.

Carers: Young People

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his strategy is for extending support to young carers over the next three years.

Edward Timpson: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Education.
	Our strategy for extending support to young carers can be found in “Recognised, valued and supported: next steps for the Carers Strategy”. A copy is in the House Libraries.
	We will continue to provide strategic national support and practical advice to local services to help improve the support available to young carers and their families. This will include sharing evidence based research and best practice about what really works in the design and delivery of services. We are also working with the Department of Health on their draft Care and Support Bill to improve transition arrangements for young carers when they reach age 18 and move from children's to adults' services.

Community Nurses

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent community nurses operating in the UK there have been in each year since May 1997.

Daniel Poulter: The Health and Social Care Information Centre collects details of the number of staff employed in England only. The following table gives the number of community nurses employed in England in the years requested.
	
		
			 National health service hospital and community health services: Qualified nursing staff in each specified level and Community Nursing area of work as at 30 September each specified year 
			 Full-time equivalent 
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
			 All Specified Nursing staff 55,574 57,141 58,678 59,988 62,786 65,050 68,863 73,809 
			 Community Matron(1) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			 District nurse 11,106 11,209 11,138 10,976 10,526 10,446 10,303 9,766 
			 Health visitor 9,932 9,960 10,066 9,918 10,012 9,774 9,827 9,951 
			 Qualified School nursing(2) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 792 1,610 
			 Of which:         
			 Qualified School Nurse n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 341 605 
			 Other Qualified Community Nursing 12,660 13,327 14,079 15,065 16,699 18,190 19,838 22,261 
			 Community Learning Disabilities Nursing 2,890 2,931 3,147 3,256 3,547 3,488 3,212 3,258 
			 Community Psychiatric Nursing 8,905 9355 9,558 10,062 10,839 11,155 11,924 13,400 
			 General Practitioner (GP) Practice Nurses(3) 10,082 10,359 10,689 10,711 11,163 11,998 12,967 13,563 
		
	
	
		
			 Full-time equivalent 
			  2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 All Specified Nursing staff 77,193 78,837 78,841 80,257 82,849 82,505 80,910 
			 Community Matron(1) n/a 351 571 1,421 1,552 1,552 1,469 
			 District nurse 9,569 9,023 8,717 8,352 7,860 7,693 6,937 
			 Health visitor 9,669 9,241 8,959 8,644 8,307 8,017 7,941 
			 Qualified School nursing(2) 1,890 2,035 2,225 2,606 2,986 3,003 2,997 
			 Of which:        
			 Qualified School Nurse 664 807 892 1,045 1,167 1,096 1,165 
			 Other Qualified Community Nursing 24,780 25,708 26,060 27,640 30,387 30,517 30,053 
			 Community Learning Disabilities Nursing 3,167 3,081 2,857 2,611 2,647 2,570 2,367 
			 Community Psychiatric Nursing 14,325 14,782 14,897 15,022 15,528 15,986 15,575 
			 General Practitioner (GP) Practice Nurses(3) 13,793 14,616 14,554 13,962 13,582 13,167 13,573 
			 n/a = Not applicable (1 )The numbers of Community Matrons were not separately identifiable until 2006. Figures for earlier years may not represent a full dataset until use of the new occupation code became established. (2) The numbers of School Nursing staff were not separately identifiable until 2003. Figures for earlier years may not represent a full dataset until use of the new occupation code became established. (3) Figures for GP Practice Nurses for 1997, 1998 and 1999 are estimated. Notes: 1. Full-time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number. 2. These figures exclude bank staff. Data Quality: The Health and Social Care Information Centre seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses. Sources: 1. Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census. 2. Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

Drugs: Rehabilitation Centres

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what means drug rehabilitation centres are regulated; and what steps his Department is taking to enforce the regulation of such centres.

Anna Soubry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Under-Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich (Dr Poulter), gave on 5 September 2012, Official Report, columns 363-64W.

Epilepsy

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) he, (b) the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence or (c) the National Commissioning Board will monitor progress towards implementation of the 2004 clinical guideline on epilepsy.

Norman Lamb: The Department has no plans to monitor progress towards implementing the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's (NICE) clinical guideline on the diagnosis and management of the epilepsies in adults and children. As independent bodies, it will be for the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB) and NICE to decide whether to monitor progress.
	Clinical guidelines published by NICE help to promote consistency, but they recognise that patients are individuals who may require different forms of management. Clinicians are therefore free to adapt the guidelines, which are advisory and not mandatory, though they must consider the advice when deciding upon treatments for their patients.
	Clinical guidelines will inform the development of Quality Standards by NICE, which the NHS CB will draw upon to inform the development of the Commissioning Outcomes Framework (COF). The COF will allow the NHS CB to identify the contribution of clinical commissioning groups to achieving the priorities for health improvement in the NHS Outcomes Framework. NICE are developing Quality Standards covering epilepsy in children and in adults and these are expected to be published in February 2013.

Harrow Primary Care Trust

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much Harrow Primary Care Trust spent on consultancy services in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; how much it expects to spend in 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The amount spent by Harrow primary care trust (PCT) on consultancy services in financial year 2010-11 was £360,000. This figure is from the PCT's audited summarisation schedule from the Department's NHS (England) Summarised Accounts. A figure in respect of 2011-12 will be available once the Department's annual Report and Accounts are laid before Parliament. No validated information is held by the Department on figures for 2012-13.

Health Services

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to introduce a comprehensive and instant patient survey system for the NHS using social media and mobile telephones for the purpose of improving health care quality.

Daniel Poulter: In May 2012, the Government published their information strategy for health and social care. The strategy sets out a move towards a new culture of transparency, where people will be encouraged to provide instant feedback about health care services. Real time patient feedback is important for both patients and the providers of health care, so they can act upon feedback to improve patient care.
	The patient information strategy makes clear that to achieve significant and meaningful volumes of feedback patients will need to have a range of opportunities to make views known. This will include using different technologies and channels giving a choice about how to provide feedback, and these will include mobile phones, and using social media.

Health Services

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether health commissioners are obliged to commission services to enable clinicians to follow National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines if such services are in their judgment the correct treatment for the individual patient;
	(2)  what role National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines will play in the assessment of NHS performance.

Norman Lamb: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines represent best practice and we expect commissioners and clinicians to take them into account in their decision making.
	National health service performance requirements are set in the annual NHS Operating Framework, a copy of which has already been placed in the Library.

Hospitals: Parking

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidelines he has issued to the NHS to prevent the introduction of parking charges at hospitals for disabled patients;
	(2)  what guidelines he has issued to the NHS on concessionary parking charges for patients who require extended or frequent care in hospitals;
	(3)  with reference to his Department's 2010 consultation on NHS car parking, how his Department assesses hospital car parks' compliance with the guidelines on exemptions and concessionary schemes for certain patients.

Daniel Poulter: This Government made clear in their consultation response in September 2010 that national health service organisations are responsible for their own policy on car parking, taking into account local operational circumstances and local community interests. These local policies should continue to include fair concessions for all patients whose health care needs require extended or frequent access to hospital. This will include, but is not restricted to, disabled patients. Hospitals must also comply with their obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and related legislation to meet the needs of disabled visitors.
	The Department no longer issues guidance to the NHS specifying how car parking, including charging and concessions, should be provided. Best practice guidance was issued by the NHS Confederation in their “Fair for all, not free for all” publication in April 2009. That guidance stresses the obligation to provide appropriate concessions.
	Hospitals should be held to account by their local communities, including foundation trust memberships and other public groups, for the car parking services they provide.

Hospitals: Parking

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to reintroduce the centralised collection of data on income from hospital car parks; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: These data are not collected centrally following a review by the previous Government, which resulted in the removal of collection of data relating to income received from car parking charges from visitors and staff in 2008-09. There is no intention to re-introduce central collection of this data at this time; however, it is available locally from national health service organisations directly.

Knee Replacements: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average (a) number of operations and (b) waiting time was for patients attending North West London hospitals to have a new knee fitted in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The information is not available in the format requested. The number of finished admissions episodes (FAEs) and mean and median time waited (days) for knee replacement procedures during 2010-11 at each acute hospital trust in north west London is shown in the following table. Data for 2011-12 are not yet available and will be published in due course.
	
		
			 Name of Trust Total FAEs Mean time waited Median time waited 
			 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 166 94.9 87 
			 Ealing Hospital NHS Trust 146 78.1 87 
			 Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust 272 111.2 111 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 368 105.2 101 
			 Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust 463 68.8 62 
			 Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 322 78.7 78 
			 West Middlesex University Hospital NHS trust 133 101.8 98 
			 Notes: 1. A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 2. Time waited (days) statistics from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are not the same as published Referral to Treatment (RTT) time waited statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients between decision to admit and admission to hospital within a given period. Published RTT waiting statistics measure the time waited between referral and start of treatment. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Food Safety

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many instances of the sale of illegal meat there have been in each region in each of the last five years.

Anna Soubry: We are advised by the Food Standards Agency, the central competent authority in the United Kingdom for food safety, that this information is not held centrally.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department plans to take steps to clarify the legal framework for accessing patient data for medical research.

Daniel Poulter: The Government are currently negotiating a new general European Union data protection regulation which will require changes to domestic legislation in due course. The Government will seek to ensure that any new data protection legislation provides a clear and workable framework for health research, while protecting the rights of individuals.
	The legal framework for accessing patient data for medical research is complex however and is not limited to data protection considerations. The Department has commissioned a review of the current rules and their application in relation to health data. The aim of this review is to ensure that an appropriate balance is struck between the protection of confidential and identifiable information within our health and care records and the use and sharing of that information for research and a range of other purposes to benefit patient care.

Midwives

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new training places will be available for prospective midwives in the next 12 months.

Daniel Poulter: There are a record number of 2,578 training places planned for student midwives starting their courses in 2012-13.

Midwives

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of midwives needed in the future.

Daniel Poulter: Midwives form the bedrock of maternity care. It is the responsibility of local national health service organisations to plan and deliver a workforce appropriate to the needs of their local population, based on clinical need and always ensuring high quality care and choice for women in pregnancy and during childbirth.

Midwives: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there were for midwives at each NHS acute hospital in London in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) previously collected vacancy rates for all staff groups at national, strategic health authority area and at trust level. However, this collection has been suspended since 2011 pending the outcome of the Department's fundamental review of data returns.
	The following table includes the last vacancy figures (by trust) published by the HSCIC which were for March 2010, when there were 147 midwifery vacancies in the London strategic health authority area, which was 26% of the reported national midwifery vacancies at the time.
	The number of midwives in the national health service increased by 960 between May 2010 and June 2012. We are keeping numbers of midwives in training at a record high, with 2,578 places planned for 2012-13, similar to the level for the previous three years.
	
		
			 HSCIC Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) Vacancies Survey March 2010: Total NHS vacancies in the London strategic health authority area by organisation for registered midwives—Vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post 
			 Midwives 
			  Three month vacancy rate % Three month vacancy number Total vacancies rate % Total vacancies number (Staff in post) full time equivalent (Staff in post) headcount 
			  March 2010 March 2010 September 2009 
			 London Strategic Health Authority area 2.4 93 3.8 147 3,784 4,866 
		
	
	
		
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust 2.8 7 3.2 8 242 304 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 2.8 6 3.0 6 196 264 
			 Barnet PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Barts and the London NHS Trust 0.0 0 0.7 1 145 172 
			 Bexley Care Trust — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Brent Teaching PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Bromley PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Foundation Trust — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Camden PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 1.2 2 1.2 2 166 213 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Croydon PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Ealing Hospital NHS Trust 0.0 0 0.0 — 82 111 
			 Ealing PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 East London NHS Foundation Trust — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Enfield PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust 0.0 0 9.5 16 152 191 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children NHS Trust * 0 * — 2 2 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust 0.0 0 4.1 10 234 286 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Harrow PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Havering PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust 9.0 10 9.0 10 101 143 
			 Hillingdon PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 4.4 6 4.4 6 131 185 
			 Hounslow PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust 0.0 0 2.0 5 240 265 
			 Islington PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 7.1 16 7.3 16 209 266 
			 Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 21.3 41 21.3 41 151 208 
			 Kingston PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Lambeth PCT — 0 * 3 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			 Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust 0.0 0 0.0 — 99 124 
			 Lewisham PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 London Ambulance Service NHS Trust — 0 — — 0 0 
			 London Strategic Health Authority — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Mayday HealthCare NHS Trust 0.0 0 2.2 3 131 198 
			 Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Newham PCT * 0 * — 1 1 
			 Newham University Hospital NHS Trust 0.0 0 0.0 — 154 211 
			 North East London NHS Foundation Trust — 0 — — 0 0 
			 North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 0.0 0 3.8 4 103 119 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 0.0 0 0.0 — 108 124 
			 Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Redbridge PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 1.9 2 4.5 5 106 129 
			 Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust — 0 — — 0 0 
			 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust — 0 — — 0 0 
			 South London Healthcare NHS Trust 0.0 0 0.0 — 283 360 
			 South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Southwark PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 St George's Healthcare NHS Trust 0.0 0 0.0 — 137 169 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT * 0 * — 1 1 
			 University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 0.0 0 0.0 — 193 297 
			 Waltham Forest PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Wandsworth PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 West London Mental Health NHS Trust — 0 — — 0 0 
			 West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 2.5 3 6.4 8 117 154 
			 Westminster PCT — 0 — — 0 0 
			 Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust 0.0 0 1.4 2 141 174 
		
	
	
		
			 Whittington Hospital NHS Trust 0.0 0 0.6 1 160 195 
			 Three month vacancy notes: 1. Vacancy data is from the Vacancies Survey 2010. 2. Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March 2010. 3. Three month vacancies are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (full time equivalents). 4. Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post. 5. Three month vacancy rates are calculated using staff in post from the Non-Medical Workforce Census September 2009. 6. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place. 7. * figures where sum of staff in post (as at 30 September 2009) and vacancies (as at 31 March 2010) is less than 10. 8. – zero. Vacancy notes: 1. Total vacancy rates are vacancies expressed as a percentage of total vacancies plus staff in post from the previous September Non-Medical Workforce Census (full time equivalent). 2. A vacancy is defined as one which employers are actively trying to fill as at 31 March 2010. 3. Staff in post data is from the Non-Medical Workforce Census September 2009. 4. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place. 5. * figures where sum of staff in post (as at 30 September 2009) and vacancies (as at 31 March 2010) is less than 10. 6. – zero. Staff in post notes:1. Staff in post data is from the Non-Medical Workforce Census September 2009. 2. – zero. General notes:1. Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number. 2. Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates. 3. Strategic health authority figures are based on trusts, and do not necessarily reflect the geographical provision of health care.

Morecambe and Lunesdale: Funding

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department has allocated to Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency since 2010.

Daniel Poulter: Allocations for NHS services are currently made to primary care trusts (PCTs), and not to constituencies. Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency is in North Lancashire Teaching PCT.
	The revenue allocations provided to North Lancashire Teaching PCT for the years 2010-11 to 2012-13 are in the following table:
	
		
			 North Lancashire Teaching PCT 
			  Total PCT revenue allocation (£000) 
			 2010-11 560,770 
			 2011-12 577,453 
			 2012-13 593,728 
			 Note: Total revenue allocations include PCT recurrent allocations and non-recurrent allocations for primary dental care, pharmaceutical services, general ophthalmic services and support for joint working between health and social care.

NHS: Pay

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2012, Official Report, column 112W, on NHS: pay, if he will request that the Government Actuary's Department estimate the highest paid position in the NHS based on pension contributions.

Daniel Poulter: The Government Actuary's Department does not hold data on individual member contributions.
	Its best estimate for the highest paid post in the national health service based on pension contributions is that of a consultant on pensionable pay of £294,530 per annum. The estimate was based on the latest available pension scheme valuation costs for (2009-10) and was provided by the NHS Business Services Authority.

NHS: Standards

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence quality standards will play in the assessment of NHS performance.

Norman Lamb: Quality standards provide a clear definition of what high-quality health and social care looks like for a range of conditions and diseases, so that organisations can improve quality and achieve excellence. They should support local benchmarking of current performance against evidence-based measures of best practice to identify priorities for improvement. Although Quality standards set out aspirational but achievable care, they are not a mandatory requirement. In the new care system, the Secretary of State and the NHS Commissioning Board must have regard to them in planning and delivering services, as part of a general duty to secure continuous improvement in quality. Additionally, Quality standards will play a key role in the development of the Commissioning Outcomes Framework, which will measure the health outcomes and quality of care achieved by clinical commissioning groups.

North West London Hospitals NHS Trust

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients attended North West London Hospitals NHS Trust to have hernia surgery in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; what the average waiting time was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The information is not available in the format requested. The number of finished admissions episodes (FAEs) and mean and median time waited (days) for North West London Hospitals NHS Trust for hernia repair procedures during 2010-11 is shown in the following table. Data for 2011-12 are not yet available and will be published in due course.
	
		
			  Number 
			 Total FAEs 790 
			 Mean time waited (days) 71.7 
		
	
	
		
			 Median time waited (days) 70 
			 Notes: 1. A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of in-patient; care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 2. Time waited (days) statistics from hospital episode statistics (HES) are not the same as published referral to treatment (RTT) time waited statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients between decision to admit and admission to hospital within a given period. Published RTT waiting statistics measure the time waited between referral and start of treatment. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

North West London Hospitals NHS Trust

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients attended North West London Hospitals NHS Trust to have gallstones removed in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; what the average waiting time was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The number of finished admissions episodes (FAEs) and mean and median time waited (days) for cholecystectomy procedures during 2010-11 at North West London Hospitals NHS Trust is shown in the following table. Data for 2011-12 are not yet available and will be published in due course.
	
		
			 Procedure Provider Total FAEs Mean time waited Median time waited 
			 Cholecystectomy procedure North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 327 79.8 77 
			 Notes: 1. A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted, against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 2. Time waited (days) statistics from hospital episode statistics (HES) are not the same as published referral to treatment (RTT) time waited statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients between decision to admit and admission to hospital within a given period. Published RTT waiting statistics measure the time waited between referral and start of treatment. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

North West London Hospitals NHS Trust

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients attended North West London Hospitals NHS Trust to have (a) a new hip (b) a hysterectomy and (c) cataracts removed in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; what the average waiting time was in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The number of finished admissions episodes (FAEs) and mean and median time waited (days) for hip replacement, hysterectomy and cataract removal procedures during 2010-11 at North West London Hospitals NHS trust is shown in the following table. Data for 2011-12 are not yet available and will be published in due course.
	
		
			 Procedure Provider Total FAEs Mean time waited Median time waited 
			 Hip replacement North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 390 95.6 88 
			 Hysterectomy North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 183 83.2 80 
			 Cataract removal North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 870 39.9 41 
			 Notes: 1. A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 2. Time waited (days) statistics from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are not the same as published referral to treatment (RTT) time waited statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients, between decision to admit and admission to hospital within a given period. Published RTT waiting statistics measure the time waited between referral and start of treatment. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Ministerial Visits: Nottinghamshire

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what ministerial visits to (a) the City of Nottingham and (b) Nottinghamshire have taken place since May 2010.

Daniel Poulter: The Secretary of State for Health and other Ministers in the Department, have undertaken the following visits and speaking engagement to the city of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire since May 2010, as shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Minister Location 
			 1 July 2010 Simon Burns Newark Hospital, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 
		
	
	
		
			 9 December 2010 Earl Howe Bassetlaw Commissioning Organisation, Nottinghamshire 
			 9 February 2011 Anne Milton Speech, Public Health White Paper Consultation Event, Nottingham 
			 7 March 2011 Andrew Lansley Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Queen's Medical Centre 
			 12 May 2011 Andrew Lansley Meeting with GP consortia at Nottingham Conference Centre 
			 23 June 2011 Andrew Lansley Rampton Secure Hospital, Nottinghamshire 
			 1 May 2012 Simon Burns Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust—Nottingham City Hospital, Queens Medical Centre and Nottingham West Clinical Commissioning Group

Nurses: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) continence advisers and bladder and bowel specialist nurses and (b) multiple sclerosis specialist nurses in (i) Harrow Primary Care Trust, (ii) Hillingdon Primary Care Trust and (iii) Barnet Primary Care Trust were employed in (A) 2010-11 and (B) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Older People: Health Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the findings of the report by the British Geriatrics Society on rehabilitation services for the elderly.

Norman Lamb: On 12 September 2012, the National Audit of Intermediate Care was published. This national audit makes an invaluable contribution to understanding developments in intermediate care services. It will support local social care services, clinical commissioning groups and health and well-being boards in preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and supporting timely and safe discharge from hospital.
	The Department looks forward to working with the authors on future iterations of the audit—continuing in the spirit of co-production.

Out-patients: Attendance

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of hospital appointments have been missed in (a) Dartford constituency, (b) Kent and (c) the UK; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse in each of the last five years.

Anna Soubry: The available information is shown in the following table.
	No estimates have been made centrally of the cost to the national health service of missed out-patient appointments.
	
		
			 Out-patient appointments and missed appointments (DNA), Consultant led, All specialties. 2007-08 to 2011-12—provider based 
			  First attendances seen First attendances DNA First appointments % first appointments DNA Subsequent attendances seen Subsequent appointments DNA Subsequent appointments % subsequent appointments DNA 
			 Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust         
			 2007-08 43,608 3,401 47,009 7.2 76,682 6,975 83,657 8.3 
			 2008-09 46,009 2,660 48,669 5.5 79,184 7,437 86,621 8.6 
			 2009-10 46,821 3,407 50,228 6.8 77,561 6,781 84,342 8.0 
			 2010-11 48,104 3,545 51,649 6.9 86,063 6,707 92,770 7.2 
			 2011-12 55,259 4,055 59,314 6.8 92,355 6,627 98,982 6.7 
			          
			 East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust         
			 2007-08 155,917 14,840 170,757 8.7 321,609 32,104 353,713 9.1 
			 2008-09 166,401 14,119 180,520 7.8 320,503 31,804 352,307 9.0 
			 2009-10 181,842 16,038 197,880 8.1 318,135 34,559 352,694 9.8 
			 2010-11 203,340 17,714 221,054 8.0 356,106 35,612 391,718 9.1 
			 2011-12 164,350 14,083 178,433 7.9 300,708 26,433 327,141 8.1 
			          
			 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust         
			 2007-08 85,203 7,060 92,263 7.7 152,058 16,713 168,771 9.9 
		
	
	
		
			 2008-09 99,062 8,022 107,084 7.5 167,908 18,574 186,482 10.0 
			 2009-10 103,818 7,688 111,506 6.9 155,875 18,029 173,904 10.4 
			 2010-11 99,837 7,729 107,566 7.2 181,030 18,539 199,569 9.3 
			 2011-12 119,989 9,102 129,091 7.1 221,354 21,226 242,580 8.8 
			          
			 Medway NHS Foundation Trust         
			 2007-08 74,490 7,227 81,717 8.8 146,791 19,299 166,090 11.6 
			 2008-09 80,482 7,063 87,545 8.1 146,735 19,319 166,054 11.6 
			 2009-10 88,015 8,011 96,026 8.3 148,428 18,987 167,415 11.3 
			 2010-11 92,836 8,599 101,435 8.5 176,388 18,941 195,329 9.7 
			 2011-12 92,836 7,790 100,626 7.7 186,906 18,302 205,208 8.9 
			          
			 England         
			 2007-08 14,287,787 1,380,798 15,668,585 8.8 31,511,555 4,043,078 35,554,633 11.4 
			 2008-09 15,592,337 1,513,370 17,105,707 8.8 33,243,858 4,301,529 37,545,387 11.5 
			 2009-10 16,518,527 1,595,287 18,113,814 8.8 34,462,456 4,283,656 38,746,112 11.1 
			 2010-11 16,953,024 1,607,283 18,560,307 8.7 35,442,802 4,163,416 39,606,218 10.5 
			 2011-12 17,009,687 1,550,188 18,559,875 8.4 36,216,061 3,934,584 40,150,645 9.8 
		
	
	
		
			  Total attendances seen Total attendances DNA Total appointments Total appointments DNA 
			 Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust     
			 2007-08 120,290 10,376 130,666 7.9 
			 2008-09 125,193 10,097 135,290 7.5 
			 2009-10 124,382 10,188 134,570 7.6 
			 2010-11 134,167 10,252 144,419 7.1 
			 2011-12 147,614 10,682 158,296 6.7 
			      
			 East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust     
			 2007-08 477,526 46,944 524,470 9.0 
			 2008-09 486,904 45,923 532,827 8.6 
			 2009-10 499,977 50,597 550,574 9.2 
			 2010-11 559,446 53,326 612,772 8.7 
			 2011-12 465,058 40,516 505,574 8.0 
			      
			 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust     
			 2007-08 237,261 23,773 261,034 9.1 
			 2008-09 266,970 26,596 293,566 9.1 
			 2009-10 259,693 25,717 285,410 9.0 
			 2010-11 280,867 26,268 307,135 8.6 
			 2011-12 341,343 30,328 371,671 8.2 
			      
			 Medway NHS Foundation Trust     
			 2007-08 221,281 26,526 247,807 10.7 
			 2008-09 227,217 26,382 253,599 10.4 
			 2009-10 236,443 26,998 263,441 10.2 
			 2010-11 269,224 27,540 296,764 9.3 
			 2011-12 279,742 26,092 305,834 8.5 
			      
			 England     
			 2007-08 45,799,342 5,423,876 51,223,218 10.6 
			 2008-09 48,836,195 5,814,899 54,651,094 10.6 
			 2009-10 50,980,983 5,878,943 56,859,926 10.3 
			 2010-11 52,395,826 5,770,699 58,166,525 9.9 
			 2011-12 53,225,748 5,484,772 58,710,520 9.3

Patients

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the procedures for track and trigger scoring system for acutely ill patients.

Anna Soubry: The Royal College of Physicians has recently published a report proposing a new system for recording and assessing the severity of illness of acutely ill patients. The system involves measuring six physiological parameters and combining and weighting them to produce a single overall score, which can then be used to guide the further clinical response such as emergency assessment by a critical care team. The report has been endorsed by the NHS Medical Director and widely disseminated to relevant professional staff.

Patients

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what remedies a patient can seek when he or she has not been treated in accordance with clinical guidelines to his or her detriment.

Daniel Poulter: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines represent best practice, and are based on the best available evidence. We expect commissioners and clinicians to take them into account in their decision making but they are not mandatory.
	In relation to national health service funded care, the NHS complaints arrangements enable a complaint to be made about any service provided or commissioned by the NHS in England.
	Patients are able to make a formal complaint to the relevant regulatory body if they have specific concerns regarding the conduct of a regulated health care professional.
	Where a patient has been harmed and they believe the harm was caused by negligence, they are able to seek legal advice to see if they may be able to recover any losses that have arisen, or may arise, as a result of the harm.

Pay

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the highest paid position is in (a) his Department and (b) his Department's agencies.

Daniel Poulter: The highest paid position in the Department is Permanent Secretary in the pay range £141,800 to £277,300. Details of the three posts at that level in the Department are available at:
	http://data.gov.uk/dataset/staff-organograms-and-pay-department-of-health
	The highest paid position in the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is that of Chief Executive in the pay range of £101,500 to £208,100. Detailed information is available on the MHRA website at:
	http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Publications/Corporate/index.htm

Psychiatry

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies on recovered memory therapy of the outcome of the Carol Felstead case.

Norman Lamb: The Department does not recommend the use of recovered memory therapy and it is not a National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommended treatment. No new assessment has been made as a result of this case.

Research

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on research and development in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12; and how much he plans to spend in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

Daniel Poulter: The Department's expenditure from central research and development revenue budgets from 2008-09 to 2011-12, and planned spend during the remainder of the spending review period is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2008-09 825 
			 2009-10 885 
			 2010-11 960 
			 2011-12 952 
			 2012-13 (1)1,030 
			 2013-14 (1)1,059 
			 2014-15 (1)1,089 
			 (1) Planned

Secondment

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in his Department are on secondment from an external organisation; and in respect of each such member of staff, what the name is of the organisation and the planned duration of the secondment.

Daniel Poulter: There are currently 43 staff on secondment to the Department from external organisations. Details of the seconding organisations and the timings are not given as this could potentially identify individuals undertaking secondments.
	The following table shows the types of external organisations from which existing staff are seconded:
	
		
			 External organisations seconding staff in to the Department of Health 
			  Number 
			 Universities 2 
			 National health service 34 
			 Private companies 2 
			 Non-ministerial offices 2 
			 Charities 1 
			 Local authorities 2 
			 Total 43 
		
	
	The following table shows the duration of these secondments:
	
		
			 Duration of secondments Number 
			 5 months 1 
			 6 months 7 
			 8 months 3 
			 9 months 4 
		
	
	
		
			 10 months 2 
			 11 months 3 
			 12 months 20 
			 14 months 2 
			 24 months 1 
			 Total 43

Smoking: Health Education

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS Stoptober campaign will cost.

Anna Soubry: The Stoptober campaign launched on 8 September 2012 and continues until the end of October 2012. The projected final cost is estimated to be £5.7 million. This includes advertising, printing, distribution, events and all production costs which include support packs, digital assets, follow-up communication, face-to-face events, materials for partners and creative development for television, radio and press adverts.

Social Workers: Voluntary Work

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will estimate the number of social work volunteer placements offered by local authorities in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the (a) length and (b) quality of social work volunteer placements with local authorities;
	(3)  what steps his Department is taking to encourage local authorities to offer volunteer placements for social work.

Norman Lamb: The Department recognises that by drawing on the expertise and skills of volunteers, the health and care sector has the potential to deliver responsive personalised services, particularly to some of the most vulnerable people and communities in our society. In October 2011 the Department published ‘Social action for health and well-being: building co-operative communities’, a strategic vision for volunteering, which aims to encourage leaders and decision-makers in the health and social care sector to work together, and to consider where and how volunteering can help to meet local priorities and improve the quality of services and support. A copy of the document has already been placed in the Library.
	The use of trainee social workers on practice placements can also help local authorities to deliver more responsive services. However, the use of these trainees, like other volunteers, is a local decision to be based on local needs, priorities and circumstances. The Department has no role in assessing or monitoring the volume, length or quality of the placements, and does not hold this information centrally. To qualify as a social worker and register with the Health and Care Professions Council, trainees must undertake practice placement days; the College of Social Work has published guidance on the criteria to be used by higher education institutions in arranging practice placements for students.

Streptococcus

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure the widest possible engagement from stakeholders during the National Screening Committee consultation on offering screening for Group B streptococcus to all pregnant women;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to assess the statistical significance of the increase in Group B streptococcus infection in newborn babies between 2003 and 2010.

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent discussions his Department has had with other EU member states on the prevention of Group B streptococcus infection in newborn babies;
	(2)  what comparative assessment his Department has undertaken of the cost benefit of the UK's risk-based strategy for preventing a Group B streptococcus infection in newborn babies with screening approaches used in other western countries; and what the results were of any such assessment;
	(3)  what steps he has taken to publicise the UK National Screening Committee's public consultation on screening all pregnant women for Group B streptococcus and its closure on 23 October 2012;
	(4)  what steps he is taking to ensure that all submissions made directly to the UK National Screening Committee during public consultations on screening for Group B streptococcus are considered by his Department and that those submissions and the responses to them are made public; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The Department has not had any discussions with any EU member states on the prevention of Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies. However, practice in Europe varies and the United Kingdom rate of early onset GBS infection appears to be comparable with that in other European countries. A copy of the Lancet article, ‘Group B streptococcal disease in infants aged younger than 3 months: systematic review and meta-analysis’, has been placed in the Library.
	The Department has not undertaken a comparative assessment of the cost benefit of the UK's risk-based strategy for preventing GBS infection in newborn babies with screening approaches used in other western countries. However, a National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment study, published in 2009, suggested that assessments of screening's cost-effectiveness in relation to current practice were subject to a great deal of uncertainty and were dependent on changes to clinical practice.
	The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation. Using research evidence, pilot programmes and economic evaluation, it assesses the evidence for programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria.
	In response to representations made to the Department on GBS infection in newborn babies, during the UK NSC's consultation period, the Department has taken opportunities, for example through correspondence, to publicise that the UK NSC's review of screening for GBS carriage in pregnancy is currently open in order to ensure the widest possible engagement from stakeholder organisations and individuals during the consultation period.
	The UK NSC will consider all of the submissions made during the consultation at its 13 November 2012 meeting. All consultation replies will be available on the UK NSC's website apart from those where stakeholder organisations or individuals have requested that their response is not made public.
	Regarding the increasing number of reports of GBS infection, data from the Health Protection Agency's laboratory surveillance scheme suggest that the rate of GBS bacteraemia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland combined was 0.37/1000 births in 2003 and in 2010 it was 0.41/1000. It appears that there has been fluctuation both up and down between these points.

Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what media or public speaking training Ministers in his Department have received since May 2010.

Daniel Poulter: The Department has paid £500 on media training for one member of the ministerial team since the 12 May 2010.

Tranquillisers

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health following the delegation of responsibility for his Department's programme of work on addiction to medicines to the National Treatment Agency (NTA), what services will be provided for prescribed tranquilliser addiction; when the starting date will be for provision of such services; whether patients will be able to self-refer for treatment; whether stand-alone prescribed tranquilliser addiction will be treated or whether treatment will only be provided when such addiction occurs in association with other drug misuse; what separate funding has been allocated for the treatment of prescribed addiction; what method of withdrawal from tranquillisers service providers will use; what specialised training will be provided for those delivering tranquilliser withdrawal services; whether such training will be mandatory; whether his Department plans to make an announcement to notify patients that such services have become available; who will provide scientific and medical advice to the NTA on tranquilliser withdrawal; and what plans his Department has for future funding of the Bristol Tranquilliser Project and the Council for Information on Tranquillisers and Antidepressants and its national helpline.

Anna Soubry: The Action Plan for 2012-13 for the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) requires it to continue to support the development and delivery of effective local recovery-orientated systems. Such services, which could include provision by the voluntary sector, are commissioned at a local level, and the information requested about them is not collected centrally. The NTA's activities are informed by professional advice from a wide range of sources.
	Funding for the treatment of addiction to medicine is not separately identified in the money that the Department allocates to local areas for commissioning services. Clinicians treating addiction to medicine are expected to follow the United Kingdom guidelines on clinical management of drug misuse and dependence and other relevant guidance. Departmental officials have been working with the Royal College of General Practitioners to develop further training and guidance in preventing and treating addiction to medicine.
	Voluntary organisations which wish to seek funding direct from the Department need to apply to the Innovation, Excellence and Strategic Development Fund. The deadline for registering an intention to apply for 2013-14 funding was 7 September.

EDUCATION

Academies

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what processes his Department has put in place to deal with failing academy schools.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department monitors the academic performance of academies and holds the sponsor to account for driving improvement in cases of underperformance. An academy is deemed to be underperforming if it is below the floor standard or in an Ofsted category of concern. The Office of the Schools Commissioner works with the sponsor to ensure robust action is taken to accelerate improvement.
	The effect of the remedial action is assessed regularly and where an academy sponsor is unable to bring about improvement on its own, they may be required to work with an academy sponsor with a proven track-record.
	In the event of serious and continuing failure formal intervention will be initiated aimed at removing the sponsor.

Academies

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many academy schools have closed in each of the last five years.

Elizabeth Truss: No academy has closed in the last five years.

Academies

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many academy schools are considered to be failing in (a) England and (b) the North West.

Elizabeth Truss: An academy is deemed to be underperforming if it is below the floor standard or in an Ofsted category of concern.
	The latest performance figures available to the Department are for 2011 and these show:
	(a) In England, 57 secondary academies and 12 primary academies were underperforming. The majority of these were previously underperforming maintained schools and since becoming academies are on an upward trajectory.
	(b) In the North West, seven secondary academies and no primary academies are underperforming.

Adoption and Fostering

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on the advice available to people considering the adoption or fostering of children of a different race to their own.

Edward Timpson: We want to encourage people from all walks of life and all backgrounds to come forward to foster or adopt. Those who do should not be turned away because they do not share the same ethnicity, including racial origin, as the looked after children in need of an adoptive or foster family. When a prospective foster carer or adopter is willing to consider fostering or adopting a child of a different ethnicity they must be provided with all the advice, training and support they need to help them fully to meet the child's needs.
	The Prime Minister announced in March that we will act to reduce the delay in placement of children for adoption because of a search for a perfect or partial ethnic match. We will shortly publish for scrutiny draft legislative proposals that are part of the reforms designed to achieve this.

Adoption: Grandparents

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what financial support is available to grandparents who adopt their grandchildren; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: Grandparents who adopt their grandchildren have the same access to adoption support as all other adoptive parents. They have the same entitlements to child benefit and child tax credits as any parents. If they have adopted their grandchildren through an adoption agency (usually their local authority), they are also entitled to an assessment of their need for financial support. It is for the local authority to decide whether to provide this. In making their decision the local authority must take into account the individual circumstances of the case.

Adoption: Harrogate

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children were in foster care awaiting adoption in Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency in each of the last three years.

Edward Timpson: The information requested is not available at constituency level. Information for North Yorkshire local authority is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Looked after children awaiting adoption at 31 March(1). Years ending 31 March 2009 to 2011. Coverage: North Yorkshire 
			  As at 31 March 2009 As at 31 March 2010 As at 31 March 2011 
			 Number of children in foster care for whom the decision has been made that they should be placed for adoption, but who have not yet been placed 5 25 20 
			 Number of children who have been placed for adoption, but who have not yet been adopted(2) 5 10 15 
			 (1) Numbers have been rounded to the nearest five. (2) Only children looked after in a foster care placement when the decision was made that they should be placed for adoption have been counted. Note: It is possible for a child to be awaiting adoption in more than one year. 
		
	
	The decision that a looked after child should be placed for adoption is made by their local authority but a child cannot be placed for adoption without either a placement order from the court or parental consent (depending on the individual circumstances of the case).
	Children in a foster placement waiting to be placed for adoption may be waiting for a placement order to be made by the court or may be in the process of being matched with prospective adopters. Once children are placed for adoption, they are no longer in foster care, but they are still awaiting adoption because an adoption order is not yet in place. It is for the prospective adopters to decide when to apply to the court for an adoption order.
	Information about the decision that a child should be placed for adoption has been collected for all looked after children, for whom a decision was made, since 2009. Any children for whom the adoption decision was made prior to 2009 would be excluded from the table above.
	Information on adopted children can be found in the Statistical First Release “Children Looked After by Local Authorities in England (including adoption and care leavers)—year ending 31 March 2011”, which is available on the Department's website via the following link:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001026/index.shtml

Apprentices: Yorkshire and the Humber

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of apprenticeships created in (a) Brigg and Goole constituency and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber since 2009.

Matthew Hancock: holding answer 17 September 2012
	Table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship programme starts in Brigg and Goole parliamentary constituency and the Yorkshire and the Humber region between 2008/09 and 2010/11 academic years. 2010/11 is the latest year for which final data are available.
	
		
			 Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts by geography, 2008/09 to 2010/11 
			  2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 
			 Brigg and Goole parliamentary constituency 440 460 810 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber region 32,170 36,530 55,800 
			 Notes 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Geographic breakdowns are based upon the home postcode of the learner. 3. Figures are based on the geographic boundaries as of May 2010. Source: Individualised Learner Record. 
		
	
	Information on the number of apprenticeship starts by geography is published in a supplementary table to a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 28 June 2012, available at:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_supplementary_tables/Apprenticeship_sfr_supplementary_tables/

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the (a) mean cost, (b) acquisition cost, (c) average refurbishment or rebuild cost and (d) average pupil capacity is of schools built under his Building Schools for the Future programme.

David Laws: The Building Schools for the Future programme is not mine or the coalition Government's; it was a programme started under the previous Administration. The mean cost of all new build schools under the Building Schools for the Future programme is £18.6 million pre-election and £16.3 million post-election. The acquisition cost of schools or sites is not held centrally; local authorities will hold this information on individual projects. The average refurbishment cost of schools under the Building Schools for the Future programme is £3.9 million. The average capacity of new build schools under the Building Schools for the Future programme is 1,080 pupils.

CAFCASS

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the trial workload weighting system currently being used by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service.

Edward Timpson: holding answer 18 September 2012
	The Secretary of State for Education has made no such assessment as the deployment of staff is a matter for the CAFCASS chief executive. Anthony Douglas, the chief executive, has written to the hon. Member on this issue and a copy of his letter has been placed in the House Libraries.
	Letter from Anthony Douglas, dated 18 September 2012
	I am writing to you in order to provide an answer to the Parliamentary Question that you tabled recently.
	Since summer 2010, Cafcass and its trade unions representing front line staff (NAPO and Unison) have worked closely together to identify and address issues in relation to the workloads of our Family Court Advisers. A workload weighting tool, which was trialled in 2011, was revised in June 2012 and this revised tool is now in the process of being implemented. It incorporates a number of adjustments, intended more accurately to reflect the actual 'weight' of the various types of work that are undertaken by Cafcass practitioners. It also reflects the proportionate working expectations set out in the Cafcass Operating Framework, which was published in April 2012.
	Please see the following table which indicates the proportion of Family Court Advisers assigned to a workload weighting band in each Cafcass region.
	
		
			 Data for August 2012 
			 Team Headcount: Employed and agency FCAs % low red (less than 21.6) % low amber (21.6 to 36) % green (36.1 to 52) % high amber (52.1 to 59) % high red (more than 59) 
			 A1: Tyneside, Northumbria and Cumbria 51 5.90 17.60 45.10 17.60 13.70 
			 A2: Durham, Teeside and North Yorkshire 49 10.20 12.20 18.40 26.50 32.70 
			 A3: Greater Manchester 82 13.40 11.00 51.20 19.50 4.90 
			 A4: South Yorkshire and Humberside 56 17.90 14.30 55.40 12.50 0.00 
			 A5: West Yorkshire 69 23.20 20.30 44.90 10.10 1.40 
			 A6: Hampshire and the Isle of Wight 29 10.30 20.70 62.10 3.40 3.40 
			 A7: Avon, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Thames Valley 64 14.10 18.80 37.50 10.90 18.80 
			 A8: Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset 60 11.70 15.00 61.70 6.70 5.00 
			 A9: Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire 101 16.80 14.90 52.50 11.90 4.00 
			 A10: Shropshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire 42 14.30 7.10 45.20 19.00 14.30 
			 A11: Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire 98 13.30 20.40 44.90 16.30 5.10 
			 A12: Birmingham and Black Country 67 20.90 7.50 22.40 13.40 35.80 
			 A13: National Business Centre, Coventry and Northampton 28 17.90 3.60 25.00 25.00 28.60 
			 A14: Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire 95 23.20 18.90 32.60 6.30 18.90 
			 A15: Greater London 157 10.20 14.60 29.30 21.70 24.20 
			 A16: Surrey and Sussex 38 2.60 13.20 39.50 26.30 18.40 
			 A17: Kent 31 6.50 19.40 16.10 12.90 45.20 
		
	
	
		
			 National 1,117 14.30 15.10 40.30 15.20 15.00 
			 Notes: 1. The numbers in the column headings in columns 3 to 7 above relate to the average number of points held by CAFCASS practitioners in each service area as at 3 September 2012. 2. Points are allocated for different types of work according to the time and work effort they take. 3. The bands were defined as follows based on the snapshot of workload scores taken on 1 June 2012: low red—15% staff; low amber—15% staff; green—40% staff; high amber—15% staff; high red—15% staff. 4. FCA = Family Court Advisor. 
		
	
	Some caution needs to be exercised over the interpretation of this data, as it is possible not all data has been added to the Cafcass Case Management System. However, we are confident the dataset is becoming progressively more accurate. As has been the case since the launch of the trial version of the workload weighting tool in March 2011, all information has been made available to our trade unions both through full access to the system and through regular reports.
	The use of the bands is intended to enable practitioners and their managers to have a sound, transparent basis on which to monitor the 'weight' of the work being undertaken and to ensure that when practitioners are carrying workloads that lie outside the 'expected' (green) band, attention is paid to the issue within supervision and through management oversight of the work of the local team as a whole.
	In addition, we have used the workload weighting system as a basis for allocating additional resources to hard-pressed teams, where many of the practitioners were in the higher bands over a sustained period.

CAFCASS

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of family court advisers employed by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) are working a high red or high amber workload weight in each CAFCASS region; and what steps he is taking to reduce high red or high amber workload weights.

Edward Timpson: holding answer 18 September 2012
	CAFCASS is an independent body with its own procedures. Operational issues, including staff workloads, are the responsibility of the chief executive. Anthony Douglas, the chief executive, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of his response has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	Letter from Anthony Douglas, dated 18 September 2012
	I am writing to you in order to provide an answer to the Parliamentary Question that you tabled recently.
	Since summer 2010, Cafcass and its trade unions representing front line staff (NAPO and Unison) have worked closely together to identify and address issues in relation to the workloads of our Family Court Advisers. A workload weighting tool, which was trialled in 2011, was revised in June 2012 and this revised tool is now in the process of being implemented. It incorporates a number of adjustments, intended more accurately to reflect the actual 'weight' of the various types of work that are undertaken by Cafcass practitioners. It also reflects the proportionate working expectations set out in the Cafcass Operating Framework, which was published in April 2012.
	Please see the following table which indicates the proportion of Family Court Advisers assigned to a workload weighting band in each Cafcass region.
	
		
			 Data for August 2012 
			 Team Headcount: Employed and agency FCAs % low red (less than 21.6) % low amber (21.6 to 36) % green (36.1 to 52) % high amber (52.1 to 59) % high red (more than 59) 
			 A1: Tyneside, Northumbria and Cumbria 51 5.90 17.60 45.10 17.60 13.70 
			 A2: Durham, Teeside and North Yorkshire 49 10.20 12.20 18.40 26.50 32.70 
			 A3: Greater Manchester 82 13.40 11.00 51.20 19.50 4.90 
			 A4: South Yorkshire and Humberside 56 17.90 14.30 55.40 12.50 0.00 
			 A5: West Yorkshire 69 23.20 20.30 44.90 10.10 1.40 
			 A6: Hampshire and the Isle of Wight 29 10.30 20.70 62.10 3.40 3.40 
			 A7: Avon, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Thames Valley 64 14.10 18.80 37.50 10.90 18.80 
			 A8: Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset 60 11.70 15.00 61.70 6.70 5.00 
			 A9: Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire 101 16.80 14.90 52.50 11.90 4.00 
			 A10: Shropshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire 42 14.30 7.10 45.20 19.00 14.30 
			 A11: Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire 98 13.30 20.40 44.90 16.30 5.10 
			 A12: Birmingham and Black Country 67 20.90 7.50 22.40 13.40 35.80 
			 A13: National Business Centre, Coventry and Northampton 28 17.90 3.60 25.00 25.00 28.60 
			 A14: Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire 95 23.20 18.90 32.60 6.30 18.90 
		
	
	
		
			 A15: Greater London 157 10.20 14.60 29.30 21.70 24.20 
			 A16: Surrey and Sussex 38 2.60 13.20 39.50 26.30 18.40 
			 A17: Kent 31 6.50 19.40 16.10 12.90 45.20 
			 National 1,117 14.30 15.10 40.30 15.20 15.00 
			 Notes: 1. The numbers in the column headings in columns 3 to 7 above relate to the average number of points held by CAFCASS practitioners in each service area as at 3 September 2012. 2. Points are allocated for different types of work according to the time and work effort they take. 3. The bands were defined as follows based on the snapshot of workload scores taken on 1 June 2012: low red—15% staff; low amber—15% staff; green—40% staff; high amber—15% staff; high red—15% staff. 4. FCA = Family Court Advisor. 
		
	
	Some caution needs to be exercised over the interpretation of this data, as it is possible not all data has been added to the Cafcass Case Management System. However, we are confident the dataset is becoming progressively more accurate. As has been the case since the launch of the trial version of the workload weighting tool in March 2011, all information has been made available to our trade unions both through full access to the system and through regular reports.
	The use of the bands is intended to enable practitioners and their managers to have a sound, transparent basis on which to monitor the 'weight' of the work being undertaken and to ensure that when practitioners are carrying workloads that lie outside the 'expected' (green) band, attention is paid to the issue within supervision and through management oversight of the work of the local team as a whole.
	In addition, we have used the workload weighting system as a basis for allocating additional resources to hard-pressed teams, where many of the practitioners were in the higher bands over a sustained period.

Carers: Young People

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent estimate he has made of the number of carers under the age of 18 (a) nationally, (b) in North Yorkshire and (c) in Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency.

Edward Timpson: The 2001 National Census indicated that there were then around 175,000 carers under the age of 18 in the UK, of which 139,000 were in England. Figures for local areas are not collected centrally.

Charities

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his Department's policy is on the (a) grant to and (b) use by registered charities of funding from his Department for the purposes of advocacy, lobbying or campaigning; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: Grants issued by the Department are issued for the achievement of the objectives as agreed and voted for by Parliament. Our policy is that grant funding may not be used, and is not granted for, the purposes of funding advocacy, lobbying or campaigning. Grant documentation also specifies the purposes for which funding can be used and the legislative basis under which it is paid.

Child Abandonment

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children under the age of five years old have been found abandoned by their parents in each of the last five years.

Edward Timpson: Information on the number of children abandoned by their parents is not collected by the Department.
	The Department does collect information on the reason why a child starts to be looked after. The reasons why a child may be provided with such a service include absent parenting. A table showing the number of children by age group who started to be looked after due to absent parenting is as follows. This covers the latest five years for which data are available (2007 to 2011) and covers England only.
	Children can be classed as needing services due to absent parenting for a number of reasons. This category will include:
	children whose parents have died or are lost
	children whose parents have sent them away for 'good' motives, this will include children whose parents decide it is in the best interests of the child to be adopted
	children who have become separated from their parents due to civil or natural disaster, or due to political events
	children who are Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers (UASC)
	children who have been left by their parents
	The category could also include children whose parent has been imprisoned where the reason for imprisonment bears no relation to the child being looked after.
	
		
			 Children who started to be looked after due to absent parenting aged under five when starting care(1,2,3,4,5), years ending 31 March 2007 to 2011, coverage: England 
			 Age on starting 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 Under one 220 220 210 140 160 
			 One to four 160 160 150 120 120 
			 Total aged under five 380 370 350 250 280 
			 (1) Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10, therefore, numbers may not sum to totals. (2) Only the first occasion on which a child started to be looked after in the year has been counted. (3) Historical data may differ from older publications. This is mainly due to the implementation of amendments and corrections sent by some local authorities after the publication date of previous materials. (4) Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements. (5) The most applicable category of the eight “Need Codes” at the time the child started to be looked after rather than necessarily the entire reason, figures show children where the most applicable code was absent parenting at the time of the child starting to be looked after. Source: SSDA 903 
		
	
	The Home Office also publishes statistics for the offence of abandoning a child under the age of two years as part of the publication, “Recorded Crime Statistics for England and Wales 2002/03—2011/12”. This can be found at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/crime-research/historical-crime-data/rec-crime-2003-2012

Child Care

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the potential effect on local authorities' ability to provide the two-year-old offer of the removal of requirements for Sure Start children's centres to provide full day care in disadvantaged areas;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the effect of changes to the early intervention grant on the support local authorities give to childcare providers to increase the availability of highly-qualified foundation years staff;
	(3)  what recent representations he has received on the need for capital funding to deliver the two-year-old offer;
	(4)  how he plans to measure the quality of childcare providers delivering free childcare for disadvantaged two-year-olds;
	(5)  what training materials he has commissioned for dissemination to providers of free childcare for disadvantaged two-year-olds;
	(6)  what guidance he has issued to local authorities on the provision of Early Years Area special educational needs co-ordinators to support childcare providers delivering free childcare for disadvantaged two-year-olds.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government are providing funding, rising each year to £760 million in 2014-15, for free early education for around 260,000 two-year-olds.
	The Department has made no assessment of the number of places likely to be delivered by particular types of early years providers such as Sure Start children's centres. This will vary from area to area. The early years market is dynamic and diverse, and the Government anticipate that it will respond positively to the increase in demand and the significant new investment. Maintained, private and voluntary sector providers and childminders already deliver places to disadvantaged two-year-olds, and the new entitlement creates opportunities for them to expand.
	The local authority and school funding settlement provides for the ongoing support and development of the children's work force through the early intervention grant.(EIG) paid to local authorities. From 2013-14, local authorities will receive their EIG through the new Business Rates Retention Scheme, within which it will be separately identified.
	The Department has received many representations on how to deliver the free entitlement for two-year-olds.
	It is important that places for two-year-olds are of high quality, so that the benefits for children's development are maximised. The quality of early years provision is assessed by Ofsted.
	A range of training materials is available to providers of early education to two-year-olds should they choose to take it up. This includes support developed through the Department's voluntary and community sector grant programme and the Early Language Development programme, commissioned by the Department, to increase awareness and knowledge of early years speech, language and communication development among early years practitioners, health and education professionals, parents and carers.
	The Department has issued no guidance to local authorities specifically on the provision of early years special educational needs co-ordinators to support delivery of the free entitlement for two-year-olds. All providers are required to comply with the Early Years Foundation Stage, this includes a requirement to consider whether a child may have special educational needs and where this is the case, how they can be supported. Under statutory guidance local authorities are required to report annually on how they are supporting the child care needs of children with disabilities.

Child Care

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the notional funding is within the Early Intervention Grant for the provision of free childcare for disadvantaged two-year-olds in each local authority in the current financial year.

Elizabeth Truss: The Early Intervention Grant (EIG) is unringfenced and does not contain any notional allocations for different policy areas.
	Since funding decisions on the use of the EIG are devolved to local authorities, it is not possible to provide a local authority level breakdown of funding allocations for the provision of free early education for disadvantaged two-year-olds.
	A breakdown of each local authority's overall Early Intervention Grant allocation can be found on the Department's website:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/earlylearningandchildcare/delivery/funding/a0070357/eig-faqs

Child Care

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  whether in determining its options for extending child care to two-year-olds his Department has included any estimate of savings to be made from expenditure on child care through the benefits and tax credits system;
	(2)  whether his Department considered an estimate of savings to be made from expenditure on child care through the benefits and tax credits system in determining the options for extending child care for two-year-olds.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department published an impact assessment in July 2012, to accompany the consultation on which children should be eligible when the entitlement to free early education is extended to 260,000 two-year-olds. It set out the factors which the Department considered when determining options for extending the entitlement. It is on the Department's website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/departmentalinformation/consultations/a00211261/extending-free-early-education-two-year-olds
	The impact assessment does not include an estimate of the level of potential savings through the benefits and tax credits system of the different options, as this information is not available. It notes that the aim of the entitlement is to improve the cognitive, social and behavioural development of eligible two-year-olds and thereby to narrow attainment gaps.

Children: Hearing Impairment

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effects on deaf children of reductions in local specialist services.

Edward Timpson: holding answer 5 September 2012
	It is for local authorities to assess the needs of deaf children in their area and to provide the appropriate special educational and social care services to meet those needs. Any reductions in local specialist services should be based on a clear understanding of those needs and the impact of such reductions.
	The Department for Education provides funding for special educational needs (SEN) services through the Dedicated Schools Grant. We have protected this grant to ensure that, overall, it is at the same cash level per pupil as in 2010-11. We have also made clear that we will not seek to recover funding for SEN services from local authorities where schools have converted to Academy status. These actions should help to protect specialist services for deaf children.

Custody

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to improve access for fathers to their children where parents are divorced or separated.

Edward Timpson: The Government are currently taking forward several policy proposals resulting from the Family Justice Review which aim to support parents in resolving disputes and to put in place arrangements that are in the child's best interests.
	In particular, the reforms include a proposed amendment to the Children Act 1989 to emphasise the importance of children having an ongoing relationship with both of their parents following family separation, where it is safe and in the child's best interests. The legislation will affect England and Wales.
	The provision will not give parents a “right” to contact with their child nor will it prescribe how much time a child should spend with each parent. The intention of the (proposed) amendments is to make explicit in law that parents remain jointly responsible for their children following divorce or separation. As now, the child's welfare will remain the courts' paramount consideration.
	The Government's overall aim in private family law reform is to encourage and enable parents to resolve disputes outside of the court system, wherever possible, and to focus on the needs of their children. The development of a new parenting agreement, as well as improved information and targeted support, is intended to help them do so.

Foster Care

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department issues to departments of social services on keeping siblings together when placing them with foster carers; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: The Children Act 1989 states that a local authority must ensure that siblings who are looked after can live together, if in their opinion that is the most appropriate placement for them. Statutory guidance on care planning, placement and case review makes clear that being able to live with brothers and sisters who are also looked after is an important protective factor for looked after children. However the guidance is also clear that for some children this may not always be possible or appropriate. In these circumstances, the child's care plan should set out arrangements for them to maintain contact with their siblings, so far as this is consistent with the child's welfare. Any decision that is made must be consistent with the statutory duty on the local authority to safeguard and promote each child's welfare.

Free School Meals: Birmingham

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children in Birmingham, Hall Green constituency are registered for free school meals.

David Laws: Information on the number and percentage of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals is shown in the following tables.
	Information on the number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals as at January 2011 is published in the statistical first release “Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics, January 2011” available at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001012/index.shtml
	
		
			 Maintained nursery, state-funded primary, state-funded secondary and special schools, and pupil referral units(1, 2, 3, 4): number and percentage of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals(5)(, 6, 7), January 2011, England 
			  Maintained nursery and state-funded primary schools(1, 2) State-funded secondary schools(1, 3) Special schools(4) 
			   Pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals  Pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals  Pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals 
			  Number on roll(5, 6) Number(5, 6) Percentage Number on roll(5, 6) Number(5, 6) Percentage Number on roll(5, 6) Number(5, 6) Percentage 
			 England 3,873,175 743,255 19.2 2,837,825 450,275 15.9 79,030 28,830 36.5 
			 Birmingham 99,050 34,202 34.5 61,491 20,923 34.0 2,854 1,388 48.6 
		
	
	
		
			 Birmingham, Hall Green constituency 12,530 3,869 30.9 4,299 1,268 29.5 164 62 37.8 
		
	
	
		
			  Pupil referral units Total(7) 
			   Pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals  Pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals 
			  Number on roll(5, 6) Number(5, 6) Percentage Number on roll(5, 6) Number(5, 6) Percentage 
			 England 13,725 4,745 34.6 6,803,755 1,227,110 18.0 
			 Birmingham 324 185 57.1 163,719 56,698 34.6 
			 Birmingham, Hall Green constituency n/a n/a n/a 16,993 5,199 30.6 
			 n/a = Not applicable. No schools of this type. (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes primary academies. (3) Includes city technology colleges and secondary academies. (4) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools, excludes general hospital schools. (5) Includes pupils who are sole or dual main registrations. Includes boarders. In pupil referral units includes pupils registered with other providers and further education colleges. (6) Pupils who have full-time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part-time attendance and are aged between five and 15. (7) Includes maintained nursery, state-funded primary, state-funded secondary and special schools, and pupil referral units. Excludes pupils in alternative provision as full and part-time status is not collected. Note: National totals have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: School Census.

Free School Meals: Further Education

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will bring forward proposals to introduce free school meals for disadvantaged 16 to 18-year-olds in further education and sixth-form colleges.

Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to introduce free school meals for disadvantaged 16 to 18-year-olds in further education and sixth-form colleges.

David Laws: holding answers 5 and 7 September 2012
	As the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr Gibb) said in the recent debate on this issue on 13 June 2012, Official Report, column 94WH, we recognise this long-standing anomaly whereby disadvantaged students in school sixth forms are entitled to free school meals while those in other settings are not. The hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton fulfilled the commitment he made during the debate to raise the issue with his ministerial colleagues, and we are now working through all the available options.

Free Schools

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what provision for physical education free schools are required to provide for pupils.

Elizabeth Truss: Like academies, free schools have to offer a broad and balanced curriculum, promoting the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils. Good schools encourage all pupils to play sport and enjoy PE because they know it is important.

Free Schools

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many pupil vacancies there are in free schools in (a) London and (b) England;
	(2)  what proportion of free schools opening in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012 has vacancies.

Elizabeth Truss: Information on pupil numbers and vacancies is collected in the School Census. The results of the spring 2013 collection, which will include up to date figures for free schools that opened in 2011 and 2012, are likely to be released in June 2013.

Free Schools

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many head teachers of free schools have the National Professional Qualification for Headship.

David Laws: The Department for Education does not collect these data.

Free Schools

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate his Department has made of the value for money per pupil spend in free schools in England.

Elizabeth Truss: Once open, free schools are funded on an equivalent basis to academies and maintained schools in the same local authority area. Free schools also receive funding for necessary costs associated with setting up a new school, which is at similar levels to funding which local authorities provide when establishing new maintained schools.
	We expect the overall capital cost of the first 24 free schools to be between £110 million and £130 million, which compares favourably to the average capital costs of Building Schools for the Future projects.

Free Schools

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the pupil capacity is for each open free school.

Elizabeth Truss: The capacity of each free school is published on the Department for Education's Edubase website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/edubase
	The capacity of each school can change and figures are validated annually as part of the School Census.
	To date, 79 free schools have opened with varying pupil capacities. The total number of pupil places for the 24 schools that opened in 2011, when they are at full capacity, is approximately 9,000. A further 55 schools opened in September 2012 and created approximately 27,000 additional places at full capacity.

Free Schools

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what the acquisition costs were for (a) land and (b) premises of each open free school;
	(2)  what the refurbishment and build costs were for each open free school.

Elizabeth Truss: We publish all site acquisition and refurbishment costs relating to free schools once each school has opened and its costs have been finalised. The costs that have been published can be found on the DFES website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/freeschools/b0066077/free-schools-2011

Free Schools

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the number of pupils on roll for each open free school.

Elizabeth Truss: Information on pupils is collected in the termly school census. Pupil numbers are generally based on the spring term census. The results of the spring 2013 collection are likely to be released in June 2013.
	Information on the number of pupils on roll for each free school open as at January 2012 was published as underlying data to the “Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics, January 2012” Statistical First Release, at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001071/index.shtml

Free Schools

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what arrangements govern the sale of food or drink items in free schools.

Elizabeth Truss: Governing bodies decide what food and drink is available at free schools; we trust them to make the right choices for their pupils.

GCSE

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the potential effect on social mobility in (a) Bethnal Green and Bow, (b) Tower Hamlets and (c) nationally of his proposed changes to the GCSE system.

David Laws: Our exam reforms will lead to higher aspirations and greater achievement for all pupils, boosting social mobility. The current GCSE system is not serving pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds well. Pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM) are significantly less likely at the moment to achieve good GCSEs in English or maths. Approximately half of FSM pupils fail to achieve a grade C or above in English and in maths, compared to less than 30% of non-FSM pupils. Only 35% of FSM pupils achieved five GCSEs or equivalents at A*- C including English and maths in 2011, compared to 62% of non-FSM pupils.
	The reforms and improvements that we are making through improved teacher training, pupil premium support for disadvantaged pupils, greater freedoms for head teachers and the growth of academies and free schools mean that students will be operating at a higher level, no matter what their background. Even as qualifications become more rigorous, more students will be equipped to clear the higher bar. Our aim is that over time a higher proportion of children will succeed than do so now and that we will close the attainment gap that has been a long-standing feature of our education system.

GCSE

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effect of his proposed reforms to GCSEs on the proportion of students studying (a) design and technology, (b) art, (c) music and (d) drama at GCSE level.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 12 September 2012
	Together with Ofqual, we have made a number of changes to strengthen GCSEs: for two year courses starting this September, external exams will be taken at the end of the course in 2014. Marks will be awarded for accurate spelling, punctuation and use of grammar in those subjects that involve extended writing—English literature, geography, history and religious studies—from January 2013. In addition to these changes we also introduced in 2010 the English Baccalaureate to ensure students have the option to study the core subjects of English, mathematics, history or geography, the sciences and languages.
	The latest figures available from the Joint Council for Qualifications in summer 2012 has shown some decline in entries to design and technology (5.1%), art and design (2.4%), music (3.6%) and drama (6.3%). There was a substantial increase in entries to the three separate sciences—biology, chemistry and physics—all up 12.3%. In modern foreign languages there was an overall increase of 2.0%.

GCSE: English Language

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the oral answer of 3 September 2012, Official Report, columns 8-9, on GCSEs, if he will place in the Library copies of all letters, emails, text messages and details of all telephone calls and meetings between Ofqual and Ministers in his Department in 2012 relating to the grade boundaries for GCSE English language.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 7 September 2012
	All relevant documents and records of meetings between Ofqual and Ministers relating to grade boundaries for GCSE English have been placed in the House Libraries. This is the list of documents as of 6 September 2012:
	Exchange of letters between the Secretary of State (27 August 2012) and Chief Regulator (28 August 2012).
	Record of phone briefings between the Chief Regulator and the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) (23 and 31 August 2012).
	Ofqual's report: GCSE English Awards 2012: A Regulatory Report (31 August 2012).
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was also a copy recipient to the letters sent from Glenys Stacey to my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley and Holderness (Mr Stuart) and Russell Hobby (NAHT).
	This list does not include administrative contact between offices over arrangements for the phone briefings and receipt of Ofqual's report. Officials are currently looking into other requests made under the Freedom of Information Act and as further material is released I would be happy to place copies in the House Libraries.

GCSE: English Language

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils took (a) GCSE English or English language wholly or partly at the foundation tier and (b) GCSE English or English language entirely at the higher tier for each secondary school in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012; and what the (A) name, (B) URN and (C) establishment number of the school was in each case.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department holds information on entries to GCSEs and the grades achieved but does not hold information on whether candidates took foundation tier papers, focusing on grades C to G, or higher tier papers, focusing on grades A* to D, to achieve those grades.

GCSE: English Language

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils achieved GCSE English or English Language at each grade at each secondary school in England and Wales 
	(1)  in (a) January 2011 and (b) January 2012; and what the (i) name, (ii) URN and (iii) establishment number of the school was in each case;
	(2)  in (a) June 2011 and (b) June 2012; and what the (i) name, (ii) URN and (iii) establishment number was of the school in each case.

Elizabeth Truss: Provisional national level GCSE results for England in 2011/12 will be available in a Statistical First Release (SFR): “GCSE and Equivalent Results in England, 2011/12 (Provisional)” in October. School level results will be available in the 2012 Secondary School Performance Tables to be published in January 2013 following a full data checking exercise with schools. These publications will cover the achievements of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 in 2012 and will include GCSEs awarded across the whole 2011/12 academic year and any achieved in earlier years by these pupils.
	Information on English and English Language GCSE examinations completed in each of the January and June 2011 examination seasons by individual grade for every school in England could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department for Education is responsible for education in England and does not collect statistics on education for Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, responsibility for which lies with each devolved administration.

Health Education: Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what provision he has put in place in maintained schools to provide awareness of diabetes.

David Laws: The Department does not provide specific information to schools in relation to diabetes or any other condition that could affect pupils. In line with the increased autonomy that is afforded to schools, we fully expect them to understand and be aware of individual children's needs. Schools should work closely with parents/carers and have a clear procedure, set out in their health care plan, with which staff are both familiar and comfortable.

King's Priory Academy

Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will place in the Library a copy of the expression of interest document made by the Woodward Trust in support of its application for academy status for the proposed Kings Priory Academy in Tynemouth.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 18 September 2012
	The Academy Action Plan for the Kings Priory School has been placed in the House Libraries. It has also been published on the Department's website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/sponsors/b00214079/academy-expressions-of-interest---september-2010-onwards/eoik

Mobile Phones

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 3 September 2012, Official Report, column 997W, on electronic communication, whether he or his Department receive an itemised bill in respect of his departmental BlackBerry usage in each month.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 18 September 2012
	I can confirm that neither the Secretary of State for Education nor his Department receive an itemised bill in respect of his departmental BlackBerry usage each month.
	The Department pays for collective usage on a monthly basis via a bulk payment facility.

Morecambe and Lunesdale: Funding

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department has allocated to Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency since 2010.

David Laws: The Department does not keep details of all funding provided on a constituency basis. To provide information for a particular area would require extensive analysis which would incur disproportionate costs.
	However, total identifiable expenditure by country and region can be found in the Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2011-12, pages 31 to 35, tables 6 to 8 available at the following link:
	http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/a/9156_tso_dfe_annual_rep_2011-12.pdf
	In addition, the Department provides funding to local authorities and types of funding includes:
	The Pupil Premium introduced in April 2011. In financial year 2011-12, schools in the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency attracted £1.057 million in respect of the Deprivation Premium or Service Child Premium. For financial year 2012-13, the provisional estimate for the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency will attract £1,815 million.
	Lancashire local authority received £78.9 million capital funding in financial year 2010-11, £70.5 million in 2011-12 and is forecast to receive a further £59.6 million in 2012-13. These grants are managed by the Education Funding Agency and do not include funding made direct by the Department to individual academies.

Ministerial Visits: Nottinghamshire

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what ministerial visits to (a) the City of Nottingham and (b) Nottinghamshire have taken place since May 2010.

Elizabeth Truss: There have been seven ministerial visits to the City of Nottingham since May 2010. These have been listed in the following table. No ministerial visits to Nottinghamshire have taken place during this time.
	
		
			 Minister Place of visit Reason for visit 
			 Right hon. Michael Gove, MP Nottingham Academy, Nottingham To open Nottingham Academy 
			  NCSL Learning and Conference Centre, Nottingham Two visits to speak at NCSL Teaching Schools Induction Events 
			    
			 Nick Gibb, MP National College for School Leadership, Nottingham Meeting with Chief Executive, NCSL staff & Strategic Leadership . Team 
			  Nottingham Academy, Nottingham Media visit 
			    
			 Tim Loughton, MP Several locations including Loxley House, Greenfields Childcare Centre, Strelley Cornerhouse Children's Centre and Melrose House, Nottingham Visit to Nottingham to look at early intervention policy in action. 
			    
			 Sarah Teather, MP National College for Leadership, Nottingham Speech at the DCS Aspirant Residential 
			  Trent College, Nottingham Panellist on Any Questions

Olympic Games 2012

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department used the Olympic Route Network for travel for official purposes during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will publish details of Government use of tickets and hospitality in the autumn, this will include use of transport services which operated on the Olympic or Paralympic route networks.

Pay

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the highest paid position is in (a) his Department and (b) his Department's agencies.

Elizabeth Truss: The highest paid positions in the Department and its agencies are:
	
		
			  Position 
			 Department for Education Permanent secretary 
			 Education Funding Agency Chief executive 
			 National College for School Leadership Chief executive 
			 Standards and Testing Agency Chief executive 
			 Teaching Agency Chief executive

Pre-school Education

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2012, Official Report, column 316W, on pre-school education, what assessment he has made of the effect on schools and pupils of the decision to publish the guidance to support the new Early Years Foundation Stage Profile assessment after the school year has started; and if he will make a statement.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 18 September 2012
	The new Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework was published in March this year. It sets out the requirements that apply from this September for assessment in the early years, including the 17 early learning goals and the characteristics of learning against which children are assessed. Schools, other early years providers and local authorities therefore already have information on the content of the new and simpler assessment arrangements for five-year-olds. These new arrangements have been the subject of wide consultation and are based on recommendations made by Dame Clare Tickell's independent review of the EYFS.
	Next summer, schools will be expected to complete the new, slimmed down Profile assessment for children at the end of their reception year. In order to complete these assessments, we will publish later this term detailed guidance to support the new Profile. To ensure it is as effective as possible, the guidance will be informed by trials we conducted with 19 local authorities and more than 400 schools over the summer. We will communicate widely with schools, other early years providers and local authorities to let them know when the guidance is available. We plan to further support local authorities, who must ensure accuracy and consistency of Profile assessments, through workshops early in the new year.

Pre-school Education: ICT

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations his Department has received on the Ofsted requirement to include an IT component in nursery education provision; and if he will make a statement.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 4 September 2012
	The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework published by my Department sets the standards that all early year providers must meet, covering children from birth to five. It is Ofsted's role to inspect against the EYFS requirements—not to set requirements themselves.
	Early learning goals in the EYFS (which children are expected to reach by the age of five) include being able to recognise a range of technology which is used, for example, at home and in school, and to be able to use it in an appropriate way. We have received a number of representations expressing concern that over-exposure to IT could be harmful to young children. We agree that it is right for early years professionals, who are best placed to make these judgments, to consider how to encourage and develop young children towards meeting the early learning goals in a way that is suitable for them.

Primary Education: Academies

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what definition his Department uses for a failing primary school in respect of a decision to impose academy status;
	(2)  how many schools have become academies despite opposition from the school governors.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department works with local authorities and governing bodies to agree sponsored academy solutions to turn around underperforming schools. Schools failing to comply with a warning notice issued by the local authority, or judged by Ofsted to require special measures or significant improvement, are formally eligible for intervention under the Education and Inspections Act 2006. The Academies Act 2010 allows the Secretary of State for Education to make an Academy Order for any school that is eligible for intervention. Decisions on whether to intervene in particular schools that are eligible for intervention are made on a case by case basis. To date, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made Academy Orders in four schools in such circumstances.

Primary Education: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to assist Peterborough City Council in the provision of school places in the primary sector in respect of children who have English as an additional language; and if he will make a statement.

David Laws: holding answer 17 September 2012
	For the first two years of the current spending review period the Department has allocated a total of £5,289,144 to Peterborough City Council to support the local authority to provide additional pupil places. This funding is released as a capital grant, which is not ringfenced and it is for the local authority to determine how it is to be used.

Programme for International Student Assessment

Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the usefulness of the Programme for International Student Assessment league tables; and if he will make a statement.

David Laws: Our education reforms are designed to enable schools in England to be among the best in the world. The OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment plays an important role in allowing us to benchmark our performance and measure our progress compared with the world’s high-performing systems.

Pupils

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what the student turnover rates were in each (a) local authority and (b) (i) primary and (ii) secondary school in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the average turnover was in student numbers in infant and junior schools in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(3)  which school had the (a) highest and (b) lowest rate of student turnover in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(4)  what the 10 schools are with the (a) highest and (b) lowest student turnover rate in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Laws: Information on pupil turnover rates is not readily available and to produce this information would incur disproportionate cost.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much each school in Thurrock constituency received in funding from the pupil premium in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and how much they will receive in 2012-13.

David Laws: The pupil premium was introduced in April 2011. Pupil premium funding is provided to schools which have on roll pupils known to be eligible for free school meals (the deprivation premium); children in care who have been continuously looked after for at least six months (the looked after child premium); and children whose parents are serving in the armed forces (the service child premium).
	In financial year 2011-12 3,320 pupils in Thurrock constituency were eligible for either the deprivation premium or service child premium, attracting £1.618 million of funding. It is not possible to identify, at constituency level, the number of pupils eligible for the looked after child premium or the number of pupils eligible for the Deprivation premium in alternative provision settings.
	The number of pupils eligible for the pupil premium in 2012-13 has not yet been confirmed but the provisional estimate is that 4,390 pupils in Thurrock constituency will be eligible for either the deprivation premium or the service child premium and will attract £2.633 million of funding. This estimate is based on January 2011 school census data and data for pupils eligible for FSM since 2006. It reflects the decision to extend eligibility for the deprivation premium to those eligible for FSM in the previous six years.

Research

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department spent on research and development in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12; and how much he plans to spend in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education spent £31.7 million on research and evaluation in 2008-09, £27.7 million in 2009-10, £24.7 million in 2010-11 and £12.1 million in 2011-12. The Department's annual research budget for 2012-13 is £8.5 million; we expect it to be £9.5 million in 2013-14 and 2014-15. The Department funds evaluations from individual policy programme budgets. At the moment we have £2.4 million and £1.2 million committed to evaluations which we expect to continue into 2013-14 and 2014-15 respectively.

Schools: Playing Fields

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has 
	(1)  made an assessment of the extent of school playing field sales since the establishment of the School Playing Fields Advisory Panel which have not been referred to the panel;
	(2)  had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on gauging the extent of school playing field disposals which have not required referral to the School Playing Fields Advisory Panel and have been approved by the relevant local authority.

David Laws: The Department does not collect information on playing field sales. Local authorities and schools apply to the Secretary of State for consent to dispose of school playing field land, and applications must meet strict criteria if they are to be approved. The Department does not hold records of actual sales.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education has not had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on gauging the extent of school playing field disposals which have not required referral to the School Playing Fields Advisory Panel and have been approved by the relevant local authority.

Schools: Arson

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many instances there were of arson on school premises in each of the last five years.

David Laws: The Department does not hold this information.

Schools: Asbestos

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to introducing a national audit of asbestos in school buildings.

David Laws: A national audit of asbestos is unnecessary as it would duplicate records which those responsible for managing asbestos are required to keep. Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, schools must maintain and regularly update an asbestos register with the location and condition of asbestos-containing materials in the school.

Schools: Crimes of Violence

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) teachers and (b) other school staff in each region have been injured as a result of assault while on duty in each of the last three years.

David Laws: The Department for Education does not hold or collect data on injuries in schools. The Health and Safety Executive publishes data on injuries reported under RIDDOR (the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995). These include school-related injuries affecting teachers and other school staff. Further statistical information can be obtained from the Health and Safety Executive website at
	http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/index.htm

Schools: Finance

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 9 July 2012, Official Report, column 43W, on schools: finance, 
	(1)  how many of the (a) primary and (b) secondary schools whose pupil premium allocation was less than their revenue funding reduction in the 2011-12 financial year are located in each (i) top-tier local authority and (ii) parliamentary constituency;
	(2)  what the average percentage reduction was in total funding for those (a) primary and (b) secondary schools for which the pupil premium allocation was less than the revenue funding reduction in the 2011-12 financial year.

David Laws: With reference to the information provided in the previous answer, for those schools for which the pupil premium allocation was less than the revenue funding reduction in financial year 2011-12, the average percentage reduction in total funding for (a) primary schools was approximately 4.5% and for (b) secondary schools was approximately 5.8%.
	It should be noted that these average reductions are mostly a result of changes in pupil numbers. They will also reflect the impact of some local authorities redistributing mainstreamed grants in financial year 2011-12.
	A table with the location of the relevant schools by local authority and parliamentary constituency has been placed in the House Libraries.

Schools: Food

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on what occasions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) his special advisers or officials have met John Vincent or Henry Dimbleby to discuss school food (i) in his Department and (ii) at another venue.

Elizabeth Truss: The Secretary of State for Education asked John Vincent and Henry Dimbleby to carry out a review of school food in April 2012. Since April, he has met Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent together twice, on 3 July and 15 August 2012, and Henry Dimbleby alone once, on 9 May 2012, to discuss school food. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's special adviser also met John Vincent and Henry Dimbleby on 3 July and 15 August. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and his special adviser were present at the launch of the review on 4 July with John Vincent and Henry Dimbleby at Lauriston Primary School in Hackney. Other Ministers in the Department for Education have not met John Vincent or Henry Dimbleby to discuss school food. Officials in the Department for Education who are supporting the review meet John Vincent and Henry Dimbleby on a regular basis (several times a week) on Department for Education premises and at their office, and have accompanied them on a wide range of visits.

Schools: National Anthems

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy that children in all schools in England are taught the National Anthem.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 18 September 2012
	It is a matter for individual schools to decide whether to teach pupils the National Anthem.

Schools: North Yorkshire

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many inspections were undertaken by Ofsted in North Yorkshire in each of the last three years; and how many ratings were given in each category in each such year.

David Laws: This question is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has written to the hon. Member, and a copy of his response has been placed in the House Libraries.
	Letter from Sir Michael Wilshaw, dated 12 September 2012
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, to respond.
	The tables show inspection numbers and judgements for early years providers, maintained schools, learning and skills providers and social care providers.
	Ofsted inspects these different types of institutions under various frameworks of inspection. The outcomes from these inspections are not directly comparable. More information on how Ofsted inspects can be found on our website:
	http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/how-ofsted-inspects
	Tables A-D show the number of inspections by Ofsted remit area with their corresponding grades for academic years 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12 (year to date) in North Yorkshire. Equivalent data have also been provided for England for context, and the tables show the total number of inspections in each of these areas in each year.
	
		
			 Table A: How well does the setting meet the needs of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage judgement of early years providers in North Yorkshire and England in each of the last three academic years 
			 How well does the setting meet the needs of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage 
			  2009/10(1) 
			 Local authority Total number of inspections Outstanding Good Satisfactory Inadequate 
			 North Yorkshire  
			 Childminder 158 8 58 28 6 
			 Childcare—Non-Domestic 116 9 66 21 4 
			   
			 England  
			 Childminder 12,928 9 55 31 5 
			 Childcare—Non-Domestic 6,809 11 58 25 6 
			 Childcare—Domestic 39 23 44 28 5 
		
	
	
		
			 How well does the setting meet the needs of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage 
			  2010/11 ² 
			 Local authority Total number of inspections Outstanding Good Satisfactory Inadequate 
			 North Yorkshire  
			 Childminder 82 57 4 9 30 
			 Childcare—Non-Domestic 80 79 1 8 13 
			   
			 England  
			 Childminder 12,106 10 60 26 3 
			 Childcare—Non-Domestic 7,707 15 64 18 4 
			 Childcare—Domestic 43 21 37 26 16 
		
	
	
		
			 How well does the setting meet the needs of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage 
			  2011/12 (September 2011 to March 2012)³ 
			 Local authority Total number of Inspections Outstanding Good Satisfactory Inadequate 
			 North Yorkshire  
			 Childminder 97 10 55 29 6 
		
	
	
		
			 Childcare—Non-Domestic 40 8 75 18 0 
			   
			 England  
			 Childminder 7,542 10 61 26 3 
			 Childcare—Non-Domestic 4,404 16 63 18 3 
			 Childcare—Domestic 22 36 41 14 9 
			 (1) Early years registered inspections include inspections of providers active at 31 August 2010, multiple inspections of the same provider, and inspections for providers who have since resigned from the register or who Ofsted have cancelled or suspended. Excludes inspections of providers on the childcare register only, and inspections where there were no children on roll. (2) Early years registered inspections include inspections of providers active at 31 August 2011, multiple inspections of the same provider, and inspections for providers who have since resigned from the register or who Ofsted have cancelled or suspended. Excludes inspections of providers on the childcare register only, and inspections where there were no children on roll. (3) Early years registered inspections include inspections of providers active at 31 March 2012, multiple inspections of the same provider, and inspections for providers who have since resigned from the register or who Ofsted have cancelled or suspended. Excludes inspections of providers on the childcare register only, and inspections where there were no children on roll. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table B: Overall effectiveness judgement of maintained schools in North Yorkshire and England in each of the last three academic years 
			 Overall effectiveness judgement 
			  2009/10 
			 Local authority Total number of inspections Outstanding Good Satisfactory 
			 North Yorkshire 89 11 46 29 
			 Nursery 0 — — — 
			 Primary 70 8 36 24 
			 Secondary 16 2 8 5 
			 Special 2 — 2 — 
			 Pupil Referral Unit 1 1 — — 
			  
			 England 6,171 782 2,631 2,281 
			 Nursery 158 94 56 4 
			 Primary 4,619 421 2,039 1,814 
			 Secondary 888 111 319 360 
			 Special 370 128 160 64 
			 Pupil Referral Unit 136 28 57 39 
		
	
	
		
			  Overall effectiveness judgement 
			  2010/11 
			 Local authority Total number of inspections Outstanding Good Satisfactory Inadequate 
			 North Yorkshire 69 7 34 27 1 
			 Nursery 0 — — — — 
			 Primary 55 5 29 20 1 
			 Secondary 8 — 2 6 — 
			 Special 4 1 2 1 — 
			 Pupil Referral Unit 2 1 1 — — 
			   
			 England 5,726 617 2,621 2,167 321 
			 Nursery 126 58 58 10 — 
			 Primary 4,249 323 2,003 1,693 230 
			 Secondary 894 126 338 360 70 
			 Special 328 91 157 66 14 
			 Pupil Referral Unit 129 19 65 38 7 
		
	
	
		
			  Overall effectiveness judgement 
			  2011/12 (September 2011 to March 2012)(1) 
			 Local authority Total number of inspections Outstanding Good Satisfactory Inadequate 
			 North Yorkshire 80 8 42 23 7 
			 Nursery 2 — 1 1 — 
			 Primary 62 5 32 18 7 
			 Secondary 10 2 4 4 — 
			 Special 6 1 5 — — 
		
	
	
		
			 Pupil Referral Unit 0 — — — — 
			   
			 England 4,197 510 2,027 1,341 319 
			 Nursery 103 54 46 2 1 
			 Primary 3,146 312 1,560 1,038 236 
			 Secondary 632 83 252 228 69 
			 Special 199 54 98 40 7 
			 Pupil Referral Unit 117 7 71 33 6 
			 (1) Inspections based on provisional data published on 15 June 2012 
		
	
	
		
			 Table C: Overall effectiveness judgement of learning and skills providers in North Yorkshire and England in each of the last three academic years 
			 Overall effectiveness judgement 
			  2009/10 
			 Local authority Total number of inspections Outstanding Good Satisfactory Inadequate 
			 North Yorkshire  
			 All college — — — — — 
			 Adult and community learning provider 1 — — — 1 
			 Independent learning provider 2 — — 2 — 
			 Prison — — — — — 
			   
			 England  
			 All college 92 9 43 35 5 
			 Adult and community learning provider 69 — 44 20 5 
			 Independent learning provider 184 11 75 83 15 
			 Prison 27 — 6 16 5 
		
	
	
		
			 Overall effectiveness judgement 
			  2010/11 
			 Local authority Total number of inspections Outstanding Good Satisfactory Inadequate 
			 North Yorkshire  
			 All college 2 — 2 — — 
			 Adult and community learning provider — — — — — 
			 Independent learning provider 2 1  1  
			 Prison 1 — 1 — — 
			   
			 England  
			 All college 83 5 33 41 4 
			 Adult and community learning provider 73 2 43 26 2 
			 Independent learning provider 155 18 73 56 8 
			 Prison 24 — 9 13 2 
		
	
	
		
			 Overall effectiveness judgement 
			  2011/12 (September 2011 to June 2012) 
			 Local authority Total number of inspections Outstanding Good Satisfactory Inadequate 
			 North Yorkshire  
			 All college 1 — 1 — — 
			 Adult and community learning provider 1 — — 1 — 
			 Independent learning provider — — — — — 
			 Prison — — — — — 
			   
			 England  
			 All college 69 4 22 30 13 
			 Adult and community learning provider 57 2 35 17 3 
			 Independent learning provider 94 8 45 32 9 
		
	
	
		
			 Prison 6 — 3 2 1 
			 Notes: 1. Data refer to numbers of providers. 2. Based on re-categorised provider types introduced in March 2012. 3. Data for all colleges includes: General further education/tertiary colleges, specialist further education colleges, sixth form colleges, independent specialist colleges. 4. Local authority information has been taken from Edubase for all colleges. 5. Data on local authority for adult skills providers has been collated from 2009 PIMS report and recently from the learner number data (aggregated data from the Individualised Learner Record) from The Data Service. 6. Local authority data for adult skills providers has not been consistently maintained by Ofsted since 2009. Local authority data has only been provided to Ofsted from June 2012. 7. Where local authority data for adult skills providers has not been located through the above sources, it is based on the address provided to Ofsted and may not necessarily reflect the location of the provider is usually the Head Office. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table D: Overall effectiveness judgement of social care providers in North Yorkshire and England in each of the last three academic years(1) 
			  2009/2010 academic year 
			 Provision type Total number inspected Outstanding Good Satisfactory/ Adequate Inadequate 
			 North Yorkshire      
			 Adoption support agency — — — — — 
			 Boarding school 6 3 2 1 — 
			 Children's Home 12 1 6 3 2 
			 Further Education College with Residential Accommodation — — — — — 
			 Independent Fostering Service — — — — — 
			 Local authority Adoption Agency — — — — — 
			 Local authority fostering service — — — — — 
			 Residential Special School 3 2 1 — — 
			 Residential special school (>295 days/year)(3) 1 1 — — — 
			 Secure children's home — — — — — 
			 Voluntary Adoption Agency 1 — — 1 — 
			       
			 England      
			 Adoption Support Agency 10 1 8 1 — 
			 Boarding School(4) 171 45 91 28 7 
			 Children's Home 1,748 238 940 432 138 
			 Further Education College with Residential Accommodation 11 4 4 3 — 
			 Independent Fostering Service 52 7 32 10 3 
			 Local Authority Adoption Agency 36 7 19 10 — 
			 Local Authority Fostering Service 30 2 12 15 1 
			 Residential Family Centre 12 2 2 8 — 
			 Residential Special School 164 77 67 18 2 
			 Residential special school (>295 days/year)(3) 80 11 46 16 7 
			 Secure children's home 18 1 12 4 1 
			 Voluntary Adoption Agency 14 4 2 8 — 
		
	
	
		
			  2010/2011 academic year 
			 Provision type Total number inspected Outstanding Good Satisfactory/ Adequate Inadequate 
			 North Yorkshire      
			 Adoption support agency — — — — — 
			 Boarding school 2 1 1 — — 
			 Children's Home 13  10 1 2 
			 Further Education College with Residential Accommodation — — — — — 
			 Independent Fostering Service — — — — — 
			 Local authority Adoption Agency 1 1 — — — 
			 Local authority fostering service — — — — — 
			 Residential Special School 4 2 1 1 — 
			 Residential special school (>295 days/year)(3) 1 1 — — — 
			 Secure children's home — — — — — 
			 Voluntary Adoption Agency — — — — — 
			       
		
	
	
		
			 England      
			 Adoption Support Agency 21 11 9 1 — 
			 Boarding School(4) 160 62 77 16 5 
			 Children's Home 1,866 359 1,046 403 58 
			 Further Education College with Residential Accommodation 12 4 8 — — 
			 Independent Fostering Service 72 24 29 18 1 
			 Local Authority Adoption Agency 57 7 41 9 — 
			 Local Authority Fostering Service 41 9 27 5 — 
			 Residential Family Centre 24 5 12 6 1 
			 Residential Special School 145 85 48 12 — 
			 Residential special school (>295 days/year)(3) 83 22 50 10 1 
			 Secure children's home 18 3 11 4 — 
			 Voluntary Adoption Agency 14 6 8 — — 
		
	
	
		
			  2011/2012(2) 
			 Provision type Total number inspected Outstanding Good Satisfactory / Adequate Inadequate 
			 North Yorkshire      
			 Adoption support agency — — — — — 
			 Boarding school — — — — — 
			 Children's Home 9 4 4 1 — 
			 Further Education College with Residential Accommodation 0 — — — — 
			 Independent Fostering Service 1 1 — — — 
			 Local authority Adoption Agency — — — — — 
			 Local authority fostering service — — — — — 
			 Residential Special School 3 1 2 — — 
			 Residential special school (>295 days/year)(3) 1 1 — — — 
			 Secure children's home — — — — — 
			 Voluntary Adoption Agency — — — — — 
			       
			 England      
			 Adoption Support Agency 5 2 2 1 — 
			 Boarding School(4) 12 1 5 1 5 
			 Children's Home 1,026 308 549 149 20 
			 Further Education College with Residential Accommodation 12 9 2 — 1 
			 Independent Fostering Service 64 24 27 11 2 
			 Local Authority Adoption Agency 36 8 16 10 2 
			 Local Authority Fostering Service 33 10 21 2 — 
			 Residential Family Centre 11 5 4 2 — 
			 Residential Special School 92 52 33 6 1 
			 Residential special school (>295 days/year)(3) 57 23 29 4 1 
			 Secure children's home 8 — 7 1 — 
			 Voluntary Adoption Agency 6 3 3 — — 
			 (1) Data relate to all published inspections of children's social care providers, thus it may include more than one inspection per provider. (2) Data includes inspections between 1 September 2011 and 31 March 2012. (3) Residential special schools that care for pupils for more than 295 days per year must register as children's homes. (4) In April 2011 responsibility for the inspection of boarding schools who are members of the Independent Schools Association passed to that body and this is why there are considerably less boarding school inspections in 2011/12/.

Schools: Sports

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effect of School Sports Partnerships in increasing participation of primary school pupils in competitive sports.

Edward Timpson: holding answer 11 September 2012
	While the network of school sport partnerships had been successful in helping to raise sporting participation levels in some areas, including primary schools, the overall proportion of young people taking part in regular competitive sport was disappointingly low. Only around two in five pupils across Years 3 to 13 (age eight to 18) participated regularly in competition within their own school, and only around one in five competed regularly against other schools.

Schools: Sports

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what financial commitment to the School Games his Department has made after summer 2013;
	(2)  what support his Department is giving to promote the School Games.

David Laws: The majority of the funding for the School Games comes from Sport England, the Department for Health, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, who between them have committed over £74 million of funding up to 2015. In addition, the Department has supported competitive sport in schools through providing £65 million for a PE Teacher Release scheme. This funding pays for a day a week of a secondary PE teacher's time to be spent out of the classroom, encouraging take-up of competitive sport in primary schools, as well as their own school, including through participation in the School Games. We have not yet made any decisions about funding beyond the end of 2012-13 but will be making further announcements shortly.

Schools: Sports

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to promote disability sport participation in schools beyond summer 2013.

Edward Timpson: The Government are determined to ensure that all pupils have the opportunity to take part in sport regardless of any impairment. Disability sport is a central part at all levels of the new School Games which are being managed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. By 1 August 2012 8,341 schools, including 359 special schools (which represents 35% of the total number of special schools) reported having participated in the School Games 2011/12.
	We are currently looking at how we can help schools to give all of their pupils the broadest possible range of opportunities to participate in competitive sport, and we are supporting the work of Sport England through our targeted Disability Grant to widen participation in competitive sport among disabled children.
	We also intend to build on the legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic games to ensure that all schools give all of their pupils the broadest possible range of opportunities to enjoy physical activity and play competitive sport. To this end we recognise the valuable contribution being made by Sainsbury's, both through their support of the School Games and through their Active Kids for All programme, designed to inspire the next generation of children to participate in inclusive sports.
	We have not yet made any final decisions about funding for future years.

Secondary Education

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the (a) name, (b) URN, (c) establishment number, (d) establishment type, (e) Government office region, (f) local authority and (g) pupil headcount for year 11 was for each secondary school in England and Wales in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.

David Laws: The requested information for state-funded secondary schools in England has been placed in the House Libraries.
	The Department does not collect information on pupils in Wales. This is a devolved matter for the Welsh Assembly.

Special Educational Needs

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with local authorities who have reported a decrease in the proportion of children identified as having a special educational need or disability between January 2010 and January 2012 of 10 per cent or more; and what explanations he has received for such decreases;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the average change in the proportion of children identified as having a special educational need or disability in England between January 2010 and January 2012.

Edward Timpson: It is for schools and local authorities to identify children with special educational needs (SEN). Neither the Secretary of State for Education, Education Ministers nor departmental officials have had formal discussions with local authorities about reductions in the number of children being identified with SEN. Informal discussions about the identification of SEN and disability have arisen with officials when exploring other policy issues.
	The Department publishes statistical data on SEN each year:
	www.education.gov.uk/researchandstatistics/statistics/allstatistics
	The statistics show that the percentage of pupils in England identified as having SEN fell from 21.1% in January 2010 to 19.8% in January 2012, a fall of 1.3 percentage points. At local authority level, percentage point changes ranged from +1.1 to -5.7, with all but 18 authorities showing percentage point decreases.
	Schools and local authorities are not required to collect data on disabled children.

Special Educational Needs: Hearing Impairment

Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of deaf young people needing specialist educational support following the raising of the participation age; and how support for these additional deaf young people will be funded.

Edward Timpson: holding answer 6 September 2012
	In 2010/11, there were an estimated 2,700 young people of academic age 16/17 who were recorded either as having a statement of SEN, or being in the "School Action Plus" group, in state schools at age 15 due to having a hearing impairment. Of these, only 170 were not in education or training.
	The Government are investing £7.5 billion in education and training places for 16 to 18-year-olds to fund a place for every young person who wants one. Local authorities have a duty to support young people to participate in education or training as we raise the age of compulsory participation to 17 in 2013 and 18 in 2015.
	It is the duty of local authorities to support young people with high needs who need specialist provision. With effect from 2013-14 the funding for post-16 high needs provision will be integrated into the Dedicated Schools Grant to help them do this.

Special Educational Needs: Hearing Impairment

Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how funding for specialist resource provisions for (a) deaf children and (b) other children with low incidence needs, will be protected from unpredictable variations from year to year under his school funding reform proposals.

Edward Timpson: holding answer 6 September 2012
	Under the new funding system specialist providers, including integrated resource units for deaf pupils, will be funded through a combination of £10,000 base funding per place, plus top-up funding directly from the local authority that places each pupil in the provision.
	This system will give providers a degree of stability through the base funding, while ensuring that there is a more direct commissioning relationship for top-up funding.
	Specialist providers should set their top-up funding levels to reflect the likely occupancy rates of their provision, in the way that non-maintained and independent providers already do.

Special Educational Needs: Hearing Impairment

Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how specialist support for deaf children who require occasional or regular specialist educational support from a peripatetic teacher of the deaf will be funded under his proposals for school funding reform.

Edward Timpson: holding answer 6 September 2012
	The high needs block within the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for local authorities will include funding for specialist support services, including peripatetic teachers of the deaf.
	The regulations governing DSG will allow this funding to be retained centrally. It is up to local authorities to agree with their schools forums whether they wish to fund a central service in this way or to delegate part or all of the funding to individual schools.

Sports

Damian Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many officials in his Department work on delivering policies for sport as part of education, or any other policies relating to sport; and how much of his Department's budget was spent on supporting this work in the latest period for which figures are available.

Edward Timpson: holding answer 10 September 2012
	Responsibility for the delivery of physical education.(PE) and sport in schools lies with schools themselves.
	Officials within the Department for Education work flexibly across the breadth of policy areas as the need arises and it is not possible to identify at any one time, the number working on PE and sport.

Teachers: Pensions

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the typical annual pension a retired teacher will receive after 30 years service under (a) the current and (b) his proposed teachers' pension arrangements.

David Laws: A classroom teacher who works full-time for 30 years and progresses to the top of the main pay scale would be entitled to a pension:
	(a) in the current scheme of around £18,400 pa.
	(b) in the proposed scheme of around £16,500 pa.
	The current TPS has a normal pension age of 65, and therefore the example assumes that the teacher started their career at age 35. In the proposed scheme the normal pension age will be the same as the age at which the member is entitled to their state pension. In this example it is assumed the member retires at age 68 and therefore joined the scheme at age 38.
	However, if the member joins the new scheme at the same age, it is expected that they would work a further three years than under the current scheme, in which case their pension under the proposed scheme would be £18,100.
	The figure quoted for the current scheme is accurate in that the formula used is dependent only on the member's final salary and length of service. The figures for the proposed scheme however will depend on the long range rate of the consumer prices index (CPI) (currently estimated at 2%) over the 30-year period and its relation to the long range rate of earnings increase (currently estimated at 4.25%).

Teachers: Pensions

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what comparison he has made of the pension that could be received after 30 years service by a (a) teacher on a typical career path under the current teachers' pension arrangements, (b) teacher on a typical career path under the proposed teachers' pension arrangements and (c) private sector worker on a typical private sector pension whose salary followed the same path as a typical teacher.

David Laws: A comparison between a member of the current NPA 65 scheme and the proposed care scheme has been provided in PQ 114701 answered today. In summary a classroom teacher who works for 30 years would be entitled to a pension:
	(a) in the current scheme of around £18,400 pa.
	(b) in the proposed scheme of around £16,500 pa.
	It is not possible to compare the pension provision in the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) to a typical private sector pension. The pension provisions in the private sector vary according the type of pension and the level of employer contribution. We can however be confident that pension provision in most comparable parts of the private sector is unlikely to be better than that provided in the TPS.

Teachers: Training

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to attract high quality graduates into teaching.

David Laws: We are committed to encouraging the best graduates into teaching. We set out the action we will be taking to attract more of the highest achieving graduates into teaching in ‘Training our next generation of outstanding teachers: Implementation plan’, published in November 2011. This includes offering bursaries of up to £20,000 to top graduates who train to teach, Institute of Physics teacher training scholarships, introducing a new employment-based route for high quality career-changers and further expansion of the Teach First programme.

Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what media or public speaking training Ministers in his Department have received since May 2010.

Elizabeth Truss: None of the Ministers have received media or public speaking training since May 2010.

Travel

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much he and his private office spent on (a) first, (b) club or business and (c) economy air travel in the last 12 months.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 3 July 2012
	The Secretary of State for Education and his Private Office have spent a total of £4,500 on business class air travel and £2,350 on economy air travel in the last 12 months up to the end of May 2012. No money has been spent on first class air travel during this period.

Young People: Unemployment

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce the number of young people not in employment, education or training in (a) Woking constituency and (b) Surrey.

David Laws: “Building Engagement, Building Futures” set out the Government's strategy to increase the proportion of young people continuing in education or training and address the longstanding challenge of young people who are NEET. This includes raising the age of compulsory participation in education or training to 18 by 2015, transforming the quality of vocational education through our new 16 to 19 study programmes and providing targeted financial support for those young people who need it most. The Department is spending a record £7.5 billion in 2012-13 on education and training so that there are sufficient opportunities for all 16 to 19-year-olds.
	The Government have recently put in place a new programme to support 16 to 17-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training and have low or no qualifications, as part of the Youth Contract. Skills Training UK has been appointed to deliver this provision across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, working closely with the relevant local authorities to identify young people who would benefit from support. Based upon currently planned performance levels, it is anticipated that the contract for the south east will be worth up to £9.2 million before the end of the contract period—31 March 2016.
	Local authorities, such as Surrey county council, have a statutory duty to support all young people to participate in education or training. They are best placed to understand and address the needs of young people who are not in education, employment or training and provide the targeted support that they need. This work can be funded from within the non-ringfenced Early Intervention Grant, and £33.5 million was allocated to Surrey in 2012-13.

Youth Services

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what the percentage change was in outturn spending on local authority youth services in real terms in each local authority in England and Wales between 2010-11 and 2011-12;
	(2)  if he will rank each local authority in England and Wales by per capita expenditure on youth services, expressed in real terms, in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.

Edward Timpson: Figures for actual spending by local authority in 2011-12 in England are not available until January 2013. The only figures available for comparison over the period 2010-11 and 2011-12 is on planned expenditure.
	Tables have been placed in the House Libraries showing the percentage change for planned expenditure on youth services between 2010-11 and 2011-12 based on the figures provided by English local authorities and the ranking of each English local authority for per capita expenditure on youth services over the same years.
	It is the duty of local authorities to secure services which improve and promote the well-being of young people. Local authorities have been reminded of this responsibility in statutory guidance published in June 2012. The guidance explains that it is not for the Government to prescribe which services and activities local authorities should deliver for young people. Local authorities are required to work with agencies such as the voluntary and community sector, health and well-being boards and the police to secure provision for young people. This provision should connect young people with their communities, enabling them to belong and contribute to society.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Council Tax Benefits

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library copies of all the responses to his consultation on council tax benefit.

Brandon Lewis: My Department is currently considering the responses to the “Localising Support for Council Tax: Funding arrangements” consultation and to the “Localising support for council tax—Council tax base and funding for local precepting authorities” consultation. We are also taking into account representations on the draft regulations and statements of intent, and on any read across to the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2013-14, and considering representations made on these matters in the “Localising support for council tax in England” consultation (a summary of responses is already in the Library of the House). As has been the practice of previous Administrations, we do not publish representations or consultation responses while a consultative process is ongoing.

Empty Property

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many empty homes have been brought back into use since May 2010.

Don Foster: Data on the number of empty homes in England are based on council tax data and can be found in live table 615 at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/stockincludingvacants/livetables/
	Council tax base data are available from October of each year. Between October 2009 and October 2010, the number of empty homes reduced by 33,000 and between October 2010 and October 2011, the number reduced by 17,000. Over the same period, the number of long-term empty homes, on which new homes bonus is paid, reduced by 16,000 between 2009 and 2010, and reduced by 22,000 between 2010 and 2011.

Empty Property: Greater Manchester

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the number of empty (a) business and (b) residential properties in (i) Tameside and (ii) Stockport in each year since May 2010.

Brandon Lewis: Details of the number of empty (a) hereditaments and (b) domestic dwellings in (i) Tameside and (ii) Stockport in each year since May 2010 are given in the following tables. In the interests of transparency we are also including data back to May 2009.
	
		
			 Empty hereditaments 
			 As at 31 March each year Number empty 
			 Tameside  
			 2010 1,422 
			 2011 1,465 
			 2012 1,233 
			   
			 Stockport  
			 2010 2,014 
			 2011 2,134 
			 2012 1,932 
		
	
	Details of the empty hereditaments were supplied by local authorities in England on the annual national non-domestic rates (NNDR3) return and are published on the DCLG website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/localregional/localgovernmentfinance/statistics/nondomesticrates/outturn/
	
		
			 Empty domestic dwellings 
			 As at October each year Long-term empty dwellings Short-term empty dwellings Total empty dwellings 
			 Tameside    
			 2009 2,113 2,076 4,189 
			 2010 1,874 1,925 3,799 
			 2011 1,709 1,964 3,673 
			     
			 Stockport    
			 2009 1,597 2,151 3,748 
			 2010 1,500 1,989 3,489 
			 2011 1,399 1,969 3,368 
		
	
	Details of the empty domestic dwellings were supplied by local authorities in England on the annual council tax base for formula grant purposes return and are published on the DCLG website at
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/localregional/localgovernmentfinance/statistics/counciltaxbase/

Green Belt

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many acres of land (a) were awarded green belt status and (b) had green belt status removed in (i) Kent and (ii) England in each of the last 10 years.

Nicholas Boles: Information on how much land was awarded green belt designation or had this designation removed prior to 2007 is not centrally available.
	Since 2007, the area of land awarded green belt designation and land having its green belt designation removed in England is (to the nearest 10 hectares):
	
		
			  Awarded Removed 
			 2007 1,140 90 
			 2008-09 10 180 
			 2009-10 0 80 
			 2010-11 30 30 
		
	
	The large area of land awarded green belt status in 2007 is mainly due to Wansbeck, who designated 950 hectares of land as green belt, not previously having any land with green belt status.
	No land in Kent has been newly designated as green belt or had its green belt designation removed since 2007.

Honours

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds on the (a) number and (b) level of honours awarded for services to (i) cricket, (ii) football, (iii) rugby union and (iv) tennis in the latest period for which figures are available.

Francis Maude: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	The following honours were awarded for services to cricket, football, rugby union and tennis in the period new year 2010 to birthday 2012:
	
		
			  Cricket Football Rugby union Tennis 
			 BD12 1 British Empire Medal 1 CBE, 3 MBE, 2 British Empire Medal 2 MBE, 3 British Empire Medal — 
			 NY12 1 CBE, 1 OBE, 2 MBE 1 OBE, 1 MBE 2 MBE — 
			 BD11 2 OBE, 3 MBE 2 MBE 1 OBE, 1 MBE 1 OBE 
			 NY11 3MBE 1 OBE, 6 MBE 1 CBE, 1 OBE — 
			 BD10 1 CBE, 3 MBE 1 Knight Bachelor, 1 CBE, 6 MBE 1 OBE, 2 MBE 1 OBE 
			 NY10 3 MBE 2 OBE, 5 MBE 1 Knight Bachelor, 1 MBE —

Housing: Greater London

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 14 September 2012, Official Report, column 414W, on housing: Greater London, if he will publish the memorandum of understanding agreed between his Department and the Greater London Authority on the framework for housing matters where there is a shared interest.

Mark Prisk: A copy of the memorandum of understanding between this Department and the Greater London Authority in relation to housing matters will be placed in the Library of the House.

Chatsworth Gardens

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what recent representations his Department has received regarding the regeneration of Chatsworth Gardens in Morecambe; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what review his Department has made of the Chatsworth Garden redevelopment since May 2010; and what the outcome was.

Mark Prisk: The Homes and Communities Agency is in regular contact with Lancaster county council about projects including Chatsworth Gardens. No other recent representations have been received and no formal review has been undertaken by the Department.

Internet

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many times the websites howtocorp.com, howtocorphelp.com and warriorforum.com have been accessed by computers at his Department's offices in Eland House since 6 May 2010.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 6 September 2012
	This information is not held by the Department. However, to assist the hon. Member, I refer him to the recent letter from the permanent secretary to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Steve McCabe), a copy of which I have placed in the Library of the House.

Listed Buildings: VAT

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions his Department has had with HM Treasury on removing full rate VAT on alterations to listed buildings with listed building planning consent; and if he will make a statement.

Nicholas Boles: Ministers and officials within the Department for Communities and Local Government regularly meet colleagues from other Departments to discuss a range of matters.

Local Government Finance

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what written representations he has received from local authorities which received transitional funding from 2010 to 2012 on their future financial position; and if he will place copies of all such correspondence in the Library.

Brandon Lewis: Any representations that we have received and will receive on such matters will be considered and help inform the consultation on the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2013-14. We are happy to receive representations on these matters, but as has been the practice of previous Administrations, we do not publish representations or consultation responses while a consultative process is ongoing.

Non-domestic Rates

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration he has given to extending business rate retention to include low-carbon energy projects.

Brandon Lewis: The Government's proposals for business rates retention will enable local authorities to benefit from the business rates paid by all businesses in their area, including those from low-carbon energy projects.
	In addition, the rates retention proposals have been designed to ensure that the business rates from any new renewable energy projects are not taken into account in the calculation of local/central share payments, top-up or tariff payments, levy payments or subject to any reset. This ensures that the authority keeps all of the business rates from such projects.

Non-domestic Rates: Surrey

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many businesses qualify for small business rate relief in (a) Woking constituency and (b) Surrey.

Brandon Lewis: The number of hereditaments in receipt of small business rate relief as at 31 December 2010, the latest date for which data are available, in Surrey and Woking local authority areas is shown in the following table. Data on the number of businesses who qualify for small business rate relief are not centrally collected. The data are also not available at constituency level.
	
		
			  Number of businesses in receipt of small business rate relief as at 31 December 2010 
			 Surrey 6,903 
			 Of which:  
			 Woking 432 
		
	
	The data are taken from the National Non-Domestic Rates 1 (NNDRl) Supplementary forms completed annually by billing authorities in England and returned to the Department for Communities and Local Government. The data are publicly available in tables in the Statistics section of the DCLG website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/nondomesticrates201112f

Ministerial Visits: Nottinghamshire

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what ministerial visits to (a) the city of Nottingham and (b) Nottinghamshire have taken place since May 2010.

Brandon Lewis: The information is as follows:
	The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government visited the city of Nottingham on 28 April 2011(1) and 5 July 2012.
	The then Minister for Decentralisation and Cities, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tunbrige Wells (Greg Clark) visited the city of Nottingham on 30 August 2011, 9 February 2012 and 19 April 2012(1).
	The Under-Secretary of State (Baroness Hanham) visited the city of Nottingham on 23 July 2010.
	(1) Political visit, included in the interests of transparency.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if his Department will take steps to ensure that any future policy on business rate retention will include provision for those communities which are affected by a new nuclear development hosted by a neighbouring authority.

Brandon Lewis: The Government's proposals for business rates retention are set out in the technical consultation published on 17 July 2012. This can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/businessratestechnical
	The Government is considering responses to that consultation, prior to finalising the scheme for introduction in April 2013.
	It should be noted that under our retention plans, the local share of business rate revenues will be retained by the billing authority (e.g. a district council) as well as relevant precepting authorities (e.g. a county council and a fire and rescue authority).
	We have also invited local authorities to consider adopting a pooling arrangement; this would encourage collaborative working across local authority boundaries, allow the benefit from investment in economic growth to be shared across a wider area, and help local authorities better manage any volatility in income.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if his Department will take steps to ensure that any future policy on business rate retention for new nuclear power allows for the community to benefit at the construction phase as well as the operational phases of development.

Brandon Lewis: Our proposals for business rates retention will enable authorities to benefit from growth in business rates revenues generated in their area. Business rates are due for payment when individual hereditaments are considered to have become fit for beneficial occupation. The question of when that applies will be a matter for the local valuation officer.

Planning Permission

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make it his policy to require the Planning Inspectorate to take account of emerging local development plans when considering planning appeals in local authority areas where no current plans exist; and if he will make a statement.

Nicholas Boles: Planning law requires that applications for planning permission must be determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The weight to be given to any other considerations is a matter for the decision-taker in each case. The National Planning Policy Framework notes that decision-takers, including planning inspectors, may also give weight to relevant policies in emerging plans according to the stage of preparation of the emerging plan. The Planning Inspectorate provided guidance to its inspectors on this point following publication of the framework.

Planning Permission

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to instruct the Planning Inspectorate to end its commitment to increase five year land supply targets by 20 per cent where they assess completion rates are too low;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to assess five year land supplies available in local authority areas on the basis of planning permissions granted by the relevant authority and not completions achieved; and if he will make a statement.

Nicholas Boles: Planning plays a key role in ensuring enough land is available to meet local communities’ housing needs. The National Planning Policy Framework, published following consultation in March 2012, sets out that councils should identify a supply of deliverable sites sufficient to provide five years’ worth of housing against their local housing requirements. Sites with planning permission should be included within this supply, unless there is clear evidence that schemes will not be implemented within five years. Where there has been a record of persistent under delivery of housing, councils should include an additional 20% buffer of land (moved forward from later in the plan period) to provide a realistic prospect of achieving the planned local supply and to ensure choice and competition in the local market for land.

Planning Permission

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to allow planning authorities to bring forward local development plans to examination in public prior to legal abolition of regional spatial strategies.

Nicholas Boles: The National Planning Policy Framework we published in March 2012 provides a strong incentive to update local plans to meet local development needs, including housing. Many authorities are making good progress in putting in place up to date local plans, which are in conformity with the framework.
	Councils can bring forward proposals, such as housing targets, which have a local interpretation to them in their plans, based on their own sound evidence base where that is justified by the local circumstances. That evidence base is likely to be more up to date than that included in the regional strategies. Each case will depend on its particular facts.
	Regional strategies remain part of the statutory development plan until such time as they are abolished, so a local plan document must be in general conformity with the regional strategy at the stage that the plan is submitted for examination. It is up to each authority to demonstrate to an independent inspector how its plans are in general conformity with regional strategies.

Planning Permission

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make it his policy to instruct the Planning Inspectorate to take account of housing needs assessments conducted on behalf of district councils where they are more recent than the data in the relevant regional spatial strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Nicholas Boles: Councils can already bring forward proposals, such as housing targets, which have a local interpretation to them in their plans, based on their own sound evidence base where that is justified by the local circumstances. That evidence base may indeed be more up to date than that included in the regional strategies, and it is for the decision maker to assess each case on its particular facts.
	Regional strategies remain part of the statutory development plan until such time as they are abolished. So, a local plan document must be in general conformity with the regional strategy at the stage that the plan is submitted for examination. It is for the local council submitting the plan to determine how their plan meets the requirements of general conformity.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement of the 25 July 2012, Official Report, House of Lords, column WS66-68, on the timetable and plans for the proposed revocation of the regional strategies, subject to due process and consideration.

Procurement

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what expenditure on procurement his Department has contracted to (a) small, (b) medium-sized and (c) large businesses in each month since May 2010.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 5 September 2012
	Since May 2010, DCLG's proportion of procurement spend with small and medium-sized enterprises has steadily increased. From a starting point of 12% in 2010 (based on DCLG Central spend), we have broadened our ambitions and now including our key arm’s length bodies our latest data show that we have reached a figure of 25.9% for a rolling 12 months to August 2012 which meets the Cabinet Office aspiration for all Whitehall Departments.
	Cabinet Office publish data on small and medium-sized enterprises spend by Departments. Based on spend within this fiscal year and our performance of 23% for the first quarter, DCLG is placed third within all central Government Departments.
	The following table sets out the detailed expenditure on small, medium and large organisations since May 2010 for my Department and its arm’s length bodies where available.
	
		
			 Expenditure (nearest £ million) by business types 
			  Central department Arm’s length bodies 
			  Small Medium Large Small and Medium Large 
			 Financial year 2010-11      
			 May 2010 1.1 (1)-0.4 8.1 — — 
			 June 2010 2.5 1.8 13.2 — — 
			 July 2010 2.1 0.7 14.4 — — 
			 August 2010 1.0 0.7 10.5 — — 
			 September 2010 1.6 0.6 12.3 — — 
			 October 2010 1.7 0.4 9.2 — — 
			 November 2010 0.6 0.5 8.1 — — 
			 December 2010 2.2 (1)-0.1 11.6 — — 
			 January 2011 1.3 0.7 3.1 — — 
			 February 2011 0.5 0.4 6.8 — — 
			 March 2011 1.1 1.1 15.3 — — 
			 Total 15.7 6.9 112.7 19.2 68.4 
			       
		
	
	
		
			 Financial year 2011-12      
			 April 2011 0.5 2.2 23.6 1.0 3.8 
			 May 2011 0.3 0.7 5.6 1.5 4.1 
			 June 2011 0.9 0.3 13.5 1.5 4.5 
			 July 2011 0.3 0.4 4.2 1.8 2.7 
			 August 2011 0.1 0.7 6.2 0.9 4.2 
			 September 2011 1.2 0.8 12.5 4.0 4.6 
			 October 2011 0.2 0.2 9.1 3.8 3.8 
			 November 2011 0.5 1.0 5.6 3.8 5.5 
			 December 2011 1.1 1.0 12.9 4.1 5.1 
			 January 2012 0.19 0.5 6.5 3.9 6.6 
			 February 2012 0.4 0.3 5.5 4.0 4.2 
			 March 2012 1.4 1.4 14.7 8.1 0.5 
			 Total 7.1 9.5 119.9 38.4 49.6 
			       
			 Financial year 2012-13      
			 April 2012 0.3 0.3 4.2 3.9 8.5 
			 May 2012 0.4 0.6 12.1 3.2 5.9 
			 June 2012 1.4 0.7 8.7 3.4 4.8 
			 July 2012 0.5 0.4 6.2 3.9 4.2 
			 August 2012 0.3 0.5 9.1 5.0 5.5 
			 Total 2.9 2.5 40.3 19.4 28.9 
			 (1) The negative figures are a consequence of cancellation of invoices. 
		
	
	The DCLG Group is making a 44% real terms saving against its running costs over this spending review period by 2014-15. This equates to savings of over £570 million of taxpayers' money by 2014-15, helping tackle the deficit we have inherited from the last Administration.
	Notwithstanding these liabilities, as outlined above, the Department has an ambitious Action Plan to increase the proportion of spending going to small and medium-sized enterprises by March 2015. The plan can be found online at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/jobscontracts/procurement/smallmediumenterprises/

Regeneration: Morecambe

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much Lancaster City Council has received from his Department for regeneration in the West End District of Morecambe in each financial year since 1997-98;
	(2)  what funding his Department has provided for the regeneration of homes in Morecambe's West End District since May 2010;
	(3)  what funding his Department has allocated to Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency since 2010.

Mark Prisk: The vast majority of our central Government funding to local areas is allocated on the basis of local authority areas, and therefore it cannot be broken down to constituency areas. It would be of disproportionate cost to obtain data for funding allocated to this area since 1997.
	Government are taking a new approach to regeneration and are working to give communities and local partners the powers, tools and information that they need to address local priorities for regeneration and growth. Examples of these are:
	The New Homes Bonus, including for bringing empty homes back into use; local business rate retention; and changes to the Community Infrastructure Levy which ensure local areas will benefit financially from local growth and development. The constituency of Morecambe and Lunesdale is part of the Lancaster district, in the County of Lancashire and they have received New Homes Bonus set out as follows:
	
		
			 Local authority NHB grant paid in year 1 (2011-12) NHB grant paid in year 2 (2012-13) Total payments in year 2(1) 
			 Lancaster 231,427 230,381 461,807 
			 Lancashire 464,868 566,258 1,031,126 
			 (1) NHB funds reward annual increases in effective housing stock and are paid for six years. The total payment column therefore comprises the total of years 1 and 2 delivery. 
		
	
	The Homes and Communities Agency allocated funds to support Morecambe West End of £132,928 in 2010-11 and £63,949 in 2011-12 for the estate management of the properties. The Homes and Communities Agency also provides specialist expertise and intelligence to help local partners deliver their ambitions.
	The West End received £1.9 million under the Empty Homes Cluster Initiative to support the refurbishment and restoration of 114 empty homes.
	The Formula Grant for Lancaster was £15.994 million in 2010-11 and £15.124 million in 2011-12.
	We are accelerating the release of surplus public sector land and using our innovative Build Now, Pay later model wherever possible, so that housebuilders pay for the land only after homes are built.
	Through our new Community Right to reclaim land we are enabling communities to get underused public property back in use.
	Lancashire has been allocated £19.4 million from the Growing Places Fund.
	Morecambe is one of the Portas Pilots, securing £100,000 to revitalise its high street.
	The Housing and Growth statement on 6 September 2012, Official Report, columns 29-34WS, included initiatives which will help Morecambe. An additional £300 million is being made available for the provision of 15,000 additional affordable homes and to bring 5,000 additional homes back into use. The Government will issue debt guarantees worth up to £10 billion to support delivery of both new market rented housing and affordable housing. More details of the scheme will be published in the autumn.

Regeneration: Morecambe

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has undertaken any performance management reviews to consider whether money spent on regeneration in the West End area of Morecambe (a) was spent effectively, (b) was spent on the projects it was allocated to, (c) provided value for money and (d) achieved the aims stated in the applications for funding.

Mark Prisk: The Department has not undertaken any performance management reviews for this area.

Regional Development Agencies

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total value of assets was of the regional development agencies sold since 2010.

Brandon Lewis: The proceeds received for the sale of assets by each of the eight Regional Development Agencies outside London in the financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12 were £75.3 million. There have been no further sales in 2012-13.
	Assets from the former Agencies transferred to the Homes and Communities Agency in September 2011.
	In the 2011-12 financial statements for the Homes and Communities Agency, the total value of disposals attributable to former Agencies’ assets in total was £18.3 million, the majority of which related to land and property asset disposals.
	For 2012-13, to the end of August 2012, the total value of disposals attributable to former Regional Development Agencies’ assets was £19.7 million.

Regional Development Agencies

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the annual cost is of current leases held formerly by regional development agencies and not re-assigned to local enterprise partnerships.

Brandon Lewis: The Homes and Communities Agency’s estimated income based on the transferred Regional Development Agencies’ leases which were in place at 31 March 2012 is £2.9 million per annum.

Regional Planning and Development

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress he is making on the abolition of regional spatial strategies.

Nicholas Boles: I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement of 25 July 2012, Official Report,House of Lords, columns WS66-68.

Regional Resilience Forums

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on regional resilience forums and their role in responding to level 1 incidents; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 13 September 2012, Official Report, column 311W.
	The Department wrote to local resilience forums and responders in March 2011 to explain that Government supports a flexible, localist and risk based approach to cross-boundary working and relationship building rather than prescribing arrangements based on arbitrary regional boundaries.

Renewable Energy: Norfolk

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the oral answer of 17 September 2012, Official Report, column 634, on waste to energy plants, which statutory bodies asked for a call-in of the energy for waste plant in Norfolk; what their reasons were for seeking a call-in of this decision; and what his reasons were for accepting. [R]

Nicholas Boles: King's Lynn and West Norfolk borough council and a number of parish councils in the area asked the Secretary of State to call-in the application for various reasons, including public opposition, the validity of the assessment of alternative sites and prematurity in terms of the Development Plan.
	Having taken into account all matters raised by the application, including representations made, the Secretary of State decided to call-in the application as it concerns matters that are of substantial regional or national controversy.
	I note as a matter of fact that the Department received call-in representations from 23 Members of Parliament and Peers, 48 local parish councils and 5,800 locally signed letters.

Riots Communities and Victims Panel

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 13 September 2012, Official Report, column 311W, on the Riots Communities and Victims Panel, when he expects to publish the Government’s response to the final report of the Riots Communities and Victims Panel.

Brandon Lewis: The panel published its final report on 28 March 2012 and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), made a written ministerial statement to Parliament on 13 July 2012, Official Report, columns 74-78WS, in response. That statement set out the measures the Government and other agencies have put in place to rebuild communities following the riots. It also set out the actions that the Government is taking forward to address some of the more entrenched issues highlighted in the panel’s report.
	In the written ministerial statement, the Government made the commitment to publish further information on the Government’s response to the panel’s report; this will be published later in the autumn.

Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what media or public speaking training Ministers in his Department have received since May 2010.

Brandon Lewis: None. I would add, as outlined in the answer of 30 March 2009, Official Report, column 966W, that Ministers in the last Administration spent at least £2,115 on public speaking training.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make it his policy that planning permission granted to people on the basis that they are Travellers, is granted subject to a requirement that those people live a travelling lifestyle.

Brandon Lewis: Following consultation, the Government published its Planning Policy for Traveller Sites in March 2012. This sets out national policy that must be taken into account when local authorities (and Inspectors) decide relevant applications for planning permission. For the purposes of planning policy “Gypsies and Travellers” means persons of nomadic habit of life whatever their race or origin, including such persons who on grounds only of their own or their family's or dependants' educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily or permanently, but excluding members of an organised group of travelling showpeople or circus people travelling together as such.

Urban Areas: Regeneration

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what (a) advice and (b) resources his Department plans to provide to local authorities on the regeneration of town centres.

Mark Prisk: The National Planning Policy Framework sets out clear guidance to councils about ensuring town centres are at the heart of their communities, and they should pursue policies to support town centre viability. It makes clear that parking charges should not undermine the vitality of town centres, and applies a strong sequential and impact test for unplanned out of centre development.
	“Regeneration to enable growth: A toolkit supporting community-led regeneration” was published in January 2012, and describes how we have put local partners in the lead, providing them with a wide toolkit of powers, flexibilities, options and incentives to help them drive the regeneration of their area, strengthen their local economy, and improve their opportunities.
	In July, we published “Re-imagining urban spaces to help revitalise our high streets” aimed at anyone working to improve their high street, town centre or retail area. It is full of case studies describing the many different ways in which under-utilised assets can be used imaginatively to support high streets and town centres—increasing high street vitality, attracting footfall and boosting local economies.
	In March this year, the High Street Innovation Fund allocated £100,000 to 100 local authorities across England which encouraged a focus on bringing empty shops back into use. Local areas also have the opportunity to apply for the £1 million Future High Street X-Fund that will reward those who have demonstrated the greatest improvement in their high street.
	Government published its response to the Portas review of the High Street “High Streets at the heart of our communities” which encourages local authorities to be the leaders on, and drivers of economic growth and high street improvement, highlighting their new powers to introduce and fund local business rates discounts.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government is funding 24 Portas pilot town teams with each of them receiving up to £100,000 to implement their plans to improve their local high streets and town centres. We will use the experience of the pilot towns to create a toolkit to support community-led regeneration.
	We have recently invited those 392 town teams that were not selected to be Portas pilots to register as town team partners and receive £10,000 each. They will also be provided with advice, and supported by the Association of Town Centre Management.

TRANSPORT

Airports

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to (a) identify options, within the EU legislative framework, to ensure that slots at congested airports are used in the way most economically beneficial to the UK and (b) optimise the functioning of the secondary trading market for airport slots; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Department for Transport and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills are currently working together to consider what options are available to ensure that slots at congested airports are used in the most economically beneficial way. The focus of the work is on seeking to optimise the functioning of the secondary trading market for airport slots. We are engaging with key stakeholders and will report on the outcomes of the work in due course.

Aviation: Working Hours

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether the relevant trades unions representing airline pilots in the UK have agreed to the implementation of the new rules on flight time limitations proposed by the European Aviation Safety Agency;
	(2)  what medical evidence his Department has gathered on the capacity of the new rules on flight time limitations proposed by the European Aviation Safety Agency to ensure the same level of safety for the travelling public as the existing Civil Aviation Authority rules; how many additional hours commercial airline pilots may be required to work in any given duty period under the new rules compared to the present system; and what comparative assessment he has made of the new rules and rules governing flight time limitations in the US;
	(3)  what steps he plans to take to integrate the European Aviation Standards Agency’s proposals on flight time limitations into UK aviation safety requirements;
	(4)  what steps he plans to take to maintain UK standards and protections for airline pilots’ flying time limitations after the implementation of the European Aviation Standards Agency harmonisation proposals; and if he will take an active role in protecting and promoting UK standards on airline pilots’ flying time limitations in the development of European standards;
	(5)  what plans he has for implementation of new flight time limitation rules proposed by the European Aviation Safety Agency.

Simon Burns: The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is still considering the responses to its consultation on flight time limitations. We do not yet know what the final proposal will contain. We will consider our position, taking into account advice from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), once a final set of rules has been proposed.
	Voting on the European Commission regulation adopting implementing rules on flight time limitations will be by qualified majority voting; we will not support the proposed rules if the CAA advises that they do not provide an adequate level of protection against fatigue. The rules will be directly applicable in all member states; opt outs from the proposed implementing rules are not permitted by the enabling legislation, adopted in 2008.
	The relevant trade unions representing airline pilots in the United Kingdom have responded to EASA’s consultation; we are aware that they have some concerns on the proposals which we have discussed with them on a number of occasions.
	The CAA has reviewed the latest draft of the proposals published by EASA on 18 January 2012. The CAA has advised that the package of proposals as currently drafted contains a number of welcome provisions that will deliver a significant improvement in safety across the European Union as a whole. The CAA also considers the package provides a similar level of safety to the rules adopted in the United States and will not lead to any diminution in safety in the UK. I am satisfied with the CAA’s advice which takes into account relevant operational, scientific and medical opinion.
	The CAA’s detailed evidence to the Transport Select Committee inquiry on flight time limitations, including comparisons on flight duty periods, and the Government’s Response to the Committee’s report are published on the Parliament website at:
	www.parliament.uk

Biofuels

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has discussed the sustainability of biofuels used in transport fuel with the EU Commissioners for Energy and the Environment.

Norman Baker: Biofuels have a role to play in efforts to tackle climate change. But it is crucial that the sustainability of biofuels is assured and that they deliver true greenhouse gas savings.
	Department for Transport ministers and officials have met, and continue to meet, with various stakeholders including representatives of the European Commission, UK and international non-governmental organisations to discuss amongst other things the environmental and social impacts of biofuels policy. At these meetings, we have made clear that the indirect land use change (ILUC) impacts of biofuels must be addressed urgently.
	I have personally raised the issue both face to face and in writing with Commissioner Hedegaard.

Bus Services: Finance

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether local authorities pursuing Quality Contracts for bus services will be eligible for funding from the Better Bus Area Fund.

Norman Baker: The Government's proposals for bus subsidy reform are set out in a consultation document that was published on 13 September. Better Bus Areas will be designated via a competitive process.
	I will take a view on the precise matter she raises in the light of consultation responses.

DVLA: Redundancy

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what costs his Department will incur in respect of redundancy for the 39 DVLA offices that are scheduled to close; and what proportion of such costs will be spent on redundancy for the Preston DVLA office.

Stephen Hammond: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has made provision in the business case for up to £33 million in redundancy payments for the 39 offices that are scheduled to close. Of this, a provision of £1.2 million is for Preston local office and enforcement centre. The final costs will not be known until the end of next year when we will know which members of staff will be redeployed and which will be taking redundancy.

Heathrow Airport

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what consideration the independent commission on aviation chaired by Sir Howard Davies will give to meeting EU air quality standards at Heathrow Airport and the surrounding area;
	(2)  what consideration the independent commission on aviation chaired by Sir Howard Davies will give to meeting EU air quality limits for nitrogen dioxide at Heathrow Airport and the surrounding area;
	(3)  what consideration the independent commission on aviation chaired by Sir Howard Davies will give to the UK's capacity to meet its obligations under the EU Environmental Noise Directive at Heathrow Airport and the surrounding area.

Simon Burns: The Airports Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, will have the scope to examine all issues relating to airport capacity and connectivity. This will include taking into account environmental considerations, including those relating to noise and air quality.

Heathrow Airport

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation would be required to bring into operation a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

Simon Burns: The coalition's position on a third runway at Heathrow remains as set out in our programme for government and it would not therefore be appropriate for me to speculate about the legislative requirements of a hypothetical situation.
	However, I can confirm that the Government believes that maintaining the UK's status as a leading global aviation hub is fundamental to our long term international competitiveness and that we have appointed Sir Howard Davies to chair an independent commission to identify and recommend to Government options for achieving this.

Heathrow Airport

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the number of people resident within the boundaries of the 57-decibel contour at Heathrow.

Simon Burns: The latest estimate made on behalf of the Department for Transport was provided by the Environmental Research and Consultancy Department (ERCD) of the Civil Aviation Authority for 2011. This showed a total of 243,350 people were enclosed in the 57 dB LAeq 16h contour. The area covered was 108.8 km(2).

Heathrow Airport: Passengers

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) business and (b) tourist passengers arrived at Heathrow on night quota period flights in the latest period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The Department relies on data from the Civil Aviation Authority Passenger Survey to understand the split of passengers between business, tourism and other purposes. The number of passengers surveyed during the night quota period is very small and would not provide a reliable estimate of the total number of business or tourist passengers travelling at that time.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when (a) he and (b) his predecessor last met the Secretary of State for Wales to discuss the route for High Speed 2.

Simon Burns: There have been no meetings between the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Wales to discuss the route for High Speed 2.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what liaison and consultation his Department has undertaken with the Wales Office on the evaluation of the route for High Speed 2.

Simon Burns: Officials meet regularly with Departments across Whitehall on all aspects of transport, including High Speed 2.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account his Department took of the European Commission's requirement for transport intermodality in determining the route choice for High Speed 2.

Simon Burns: The choice of route for High Speed 2 was not specifically influenced by European Commission requirements for transport intermodality, as such decisions are matters for member states.
	However, the chosen route is designed to facilitate the use of multiple modes during a single journey and to foster synergies between different modes of transport, including rail and air networks; objectives which are shared with the Commission.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account his Department took of available capacity on the West Coast Main Line when formulating proposals for High Speed 2.

Simon Burns: Prior to her decisions on high speed rail in January, the then Secretary of State considered a number of strategic alternatives to HS2, and concluded that building a new high speed rail line is the best means of meeting the long term capacity challenge on our railways. These alternatives included measures to increase the available capacity of the West Coast Main Line, which only provide a partial, short-term answer to the demand challenges addressed by HS2, while sacrificing the connectivity benefits high speed rail would bring.

London Airports

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the extent of spare capacity at (a) London Oxford and (b) London Southend airports.

Simon Burns: The Department published an assessment of airport capacity and forecast demand for 31 of the UK's largest airports in “UK Aviation Forecasts, 2011”:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/uk-aviation-forecasts-2011
	The Department keeps the list of airports included in the forecasts under review and is actively considering the case for including Southend airport in future forecasts. There are no plans to include Oxford airport at present.

Morecambe and Lunesdale: Funding

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding his Department has allocated to Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency since 2010.

Norman Baker: It is not possible to break the Department's funding down to constituency level. However, the following table sets out the total funding allocated to Lancashire county council between 2010-11 and 2012-13.
	
		
			  Funding (£000) 
			 2010-11 (1)43,325 
			 2011-12 29,564 
			 2012-13 (2)29,548 
			 (1) Includes Lancashire county council's allocation of funding provided to local highway authorities in relation to the severe winters of 2009-10 and 2010-11. (2) Includes £909,000 of Local Sustainable Transport Funding. Lancashire county council's full award for this funding is £5 million; the balance will be paid, subject to successful completion of the project, between now and 2015. 
		
	
	Other transport funding is provided by the Department for investment across England, but it is not possible to break this down to either constituency or local authority level. This funding includes, for example, funding given to the Highways Agency for the maintenance and improvement of the Strategic Road Network, and to Network Rail for the maintenance and development of our rail infrastructure.

Motor Vehicles: Disability

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 17 September 2012, Official Report, column 519W, on motor vehicles: disability, what assessment he has made of the issues arising from the European Commission's roadworthiness proposal.

Stephen Hammond: No assessment has been made on the issue of modifications for disabled drivers. Officials will be seeking clarification on the testing of vehicle adaptations as part of the ongoing negotiations on the current Roadworthiness Proposal. The UK will continue to vigorously oppose aspects of this proposal that imply costs for the UK.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the effect on (a) life expectancy and (b) premature deaths avoided of action taken to implement 
	(1)  the EU Light Duty Vehicles Directive and associated amendments (i) in total and (ii) in each region since it came into force; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  the EU Heavy Duty Vehicles Directive and associated amendments (i) in total and (ii) in each region since it came into force; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: EU legislation on new vehicle standards has led to significant reductions in emissions of air pollutants, improving air quality and public health. The most recent legislation for light vehicles is Regulation (EU) No 715/2007, as amended. The most recent legislation for heavy vehicles is Regulation (EU) No 595/2009, as amended. Since 1990 emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from road transport as a whole have reduced by 70%, and those of particulate matter (PM10) by 38%.
	It is not possible to put a precise figure on the improvement in life expectancy or premature deaths in the UK, or in regions of the UK, resulting from the adoption of new vehicle emission standards. An impact assessment for the new Euro VI emission standard for heavy vehicles can be found at
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/tna/20100927131008/http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/archive/2008/euroviconsultation/ia.pdf
	This includes a monetised estimate of the health benefits associated with reductions in air pollution, including impacts on both mortality, and respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his officials have had with Co-operative Insurance and Insure The Box on smart box technology.

Stephen Hammond: Departmental officials met with Co-operative Insurance on 9 July to discuss their smart box technology. Additionally, the Department held its first working group meeting with industry, including Co-operative Insurance, to discuss young drivers. Smart box technology formed part of this discussion.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with the Association of British Insurers on how to reduce insurance premiums for motorists.

Stephen Hammond: The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Transport met with representatives from major motor insurers on 14 February 2012 to discuss action that can be taken to reduce the number of claims for whiplash which contribute significantly to the cost of settling motor insurance claims. The Secretary of State chaired a further meeting with the insurance industry on 2 May. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) was present at both meetings.
	In addition, the Secretary of State met with ABI on 23 April 2012 for a wider discussion on motor insurance issues.

Ministerial Visits: Nottinghamshire

Mark Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what ministerial visits to (a) the City of Nottingham and (b) Nottinghamshire have taken place since May 2010.

Simon Burns: The following ministerial visits were completed during this period:
	(a) City of Nottingham
	The Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) visited the City of Nottingham on the 24 March 2011, 8 January 2012 and 6 September 2012.
	(b) Nottinghamshire
	The then Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) visited Newark on the 13 June 2011.
	The Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) visited Retford on the 8 January 2012.

Passenger Ships: Disabled People

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether cruise liners are exempt from the requirement of EU Regulation 1177/2010 that disabled people should be able to be accompanied by their carer free of charge when travelling.

Stephen Hammond: EU Regulation 1177/2010 on maritime passenger rights, which enters into force on 18 December 2012, aims to provide disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility with the same opportunities to travel by water as they have in other transport sectors across the EU.
	Where strictly necessary, carriers, travel agents and tour operators may require that a disabled person or person with reduced mobility be accompanied by a companion to assist with personal care.
	In these circumstances, a companion is entitled to travel free of charge on a timetabled passenger service such as a ferry. However, no such entitlement applies in relation to cruises. So a companion travelling on a cruise ship would need to be paid for.

Public Transport: ICT

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to utilise (a) smart cards and (b) other new technologies to improve the quality of public transport services.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport supports the roll-out of smart and integrated ticketing more widely and believes that there are huge potential benefits for passengers, local authorities and operators.
	As per our business plan commitment the Department continues to specify smart ticketing technology in all rail franchises as they are re-let. At the same time the Government has allocated £45 million to support the earlier deployment of smart ticketing equipment in a large number of stations in the south-east by 2014. This will give passengers earlier access to smart products than if we had waited for the start of new franchises to make progress.
	For buses the Department continues to encourage the roll-out of smart ticketing through the 8% uplift to the Bus Service Operators' Grant. We have, in addition, allocated £15 million to develop and provide a managed service to further stimulate smart ticketing availability.
	Beyond smart cards the Department is very keen to encourage industry to innovate in order to improve the quality of public transport services. Practical steps to encourage innovation include the Department's £17 million support for the establishment of a multi-modal Transport Systems Catapult technology and innovation centre which will provide the location and resources to develop and test new ideas for all modes of transport.
	The Government is currently consulting on proposals for reforming Bus Service Operators' Grant. These proposals will see the devolution of a substantial proportion of the grant to local authorities, enabling them to improve bus patronage thereby stimulating the local economy.
	The local government measures taken forward with the grant will reflect local bus needs. It is likely that some local transport authorities will use the grant to take forward the type of measures seen in March 2012 when DFT awarded 24 local transport authorities with just under £70 million to develop Better Bus Areas. Many of the successful bids included new technologies to improve the quality of public transport service, including improved traffic management and traffic enforcement systems to help local authorities make the best of existing road infrastructure, real time information, audio-visual equipment, wi-fi on buses, and smart-phone bus apps.

Railway Stations: Greater London

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway stations in Greater London are served by fewer than four trains per hour throughout the day; and which operating company is responsible for each such station.

Norman Baker: This information is not held by the Department in the format requested. However, this information is available in the public domain and can be found within public timetables on the National Rail website at
	www.nationalrail.co.uk

Railways: Greater London

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 July 2012, Official Report, columns 113-4WS, whether investment in increased rail capacity for commuters on the most congested routes in London will include the Reading to Waterloo service route.

Simon Burns: The Government have specified sufficient peak capacity into London Waterloo to meet the forecast growth in demand up to 2019 and have provided funding for this but it is for the train operating company and Network Rail to determine how this congestion relief will be provided. They are expected to publish their proposals in January 2013.

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 11 September 2012, Official Report, column 130W, on third sector, what discussions he has had with EU counterparts on amending the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation to reduce or eliminate fuels from food feedstocks.

Norman Baker: Biofuels have a role to play in efforts to tackle climate change, but it is crucial that the sustainability of biofuels is assured and that they deliver true greenhouse gas savings.
	The renewable transport fuel obligation is the domestic instrument which implements the EU's biofuel requirements in the United Kingdom. Biofuel sustainability criteria are decided at an EU level, and the UK has pressed to have indirect land use change (ILUC) impacts, including those associated with the use of biofuels produced from food feedstocks, addressed urgently as part of these criteria. Department for Transport Ministers and officials have met, and continue to meet, with various stakeholders including representatives of the European Commission, UK and international non-governmental organisations to discuss the environmental and social impacts of biofuels policy.

Research

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on research and development in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12; and how much he plans to spend in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

Simon Burns: As reported in Science, Engineering and Technology Indicators (SET Statistics), the Department for Transport's expenditure on research and development was:
	
		
			  Expenditure (£ million) 
			 2008-09 60 
			 2009-10 68 
			 2010-11 35 
		
	
	Final figures for 2011-12 will be available shortly. Spend in future years will depend on the evidence requirements identified to inform best delivery of policy and operational decision-making.

Shipping

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of UK seafarers were employed on (a) tonnage tax or (b) non-tonnage tax ships in each year since 2001-02.

Stephen Hammond: Statistical estimates for the number of UK nationals employed as seafarers are available for years from 2002 onwards. Data for 2012 are not yet available. Tonnage tax companies are required annually to inform the Department of the numbers of UK seafarers employed on their ships. The following table gives an extrapolation of these figures to estimate the percentage of UK seafarers who were employed on tonnage tax ships in each year from 2002 to 2011.
	
		
			 Number of UK seafarers serving on board tonnage tax ships as a percentage of all UK seafarers 
			  Percentage 
			 2002 21 
			 2003 19 
			 2004 14 
			 2005 19 
			 2006 17 
			 2007 23 
			 2008 23 
			 2009 22 
		
	
	
		
			 2010 18 
			 2011 20 
			 Source: UK Seafarer Statistics 2011, DFT and tonnage tax companies.

Shipping

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many UK seafarer (a) ratings and (b) officers there were in each year since 1982.

Stephen Hammond: Statistical estimates for the number of UK nationals employed as seafarers are available for years from 2002 onwards. Statistical estimates for the number of UK nationals employed as seafarers are not available for years prior to 2002. Data for 2012 are not yet available. The following table gives the number of ratings and the number of officers (certificated and uncertificated) for each of the years from 2002 to 2011.
	
		
			 Number of UK nationals employed as seafarers: 2002-11 
			 Number 
			  2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 Ratings 9,500 10,500 10,400 9,400 9,800 8,200 9,300 10,400 11,300 11,900 
			 Officers (certificated and uncertificated) 15,200 16,800 16,400 16,200 16,000 13,900 14,200 14,500 14,300 13,300 
			 Total 24,700 27,300 26,800 25,500 25,800 22,000 23,500 24,900 25,600 25,200 
			 Notes: 1. Statistics for ratings and uncertificated officers are based on numbers employed by members of the UK Chamber of Shipping: No adjustment has been made for UK nationals employed by companies which are not members of the UK Chamber of Shipping. 2. Statistics for Certificated Officers are based on certification data supplied by the MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency). Because certificates are valid for five years from the date of validation, for the purposes of these statistics it has been assumed that officers holding certificates retire from service at sea at age 62, and that 16% of other officers with valid certificates are not actively employed at sea at any one time. 3. At any time the number employed will be larger than the number actually serving on ship because of the need to have “relief” employees to cover shore leave. Source: UK Seafarer Statistics 2011, DFT

Shipping

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many UK seafarer (a) ratings tax and (b) officers served in the merchant navy in each year since 1982.

Stephen Hammond: The statistics that the Department for Transport has on the number of UK nationals who are seafarers are not broken down by the flag of the vessels on which they serve.

Skipton-Colne Railway Line

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the economic benefits of re-opening the Colne-Skipton railway line.

Simon Burns: The Department for Transport has not made an assessment of the economic benefits arising from the re-opening of the Skipton-Colne line. As this line would primarily meet local travel needs, it is for the local authorities to determine the economic benefits that would arise from its re-opening.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on local parish councils in co-operation with their local police constabulary introducing average speed cameras and using proceeds from fines to finance their purchase.

Stephen Hammond: It is not possible for local parish councils or the police to receive fine revenue from average speed cameras. It is not departmental policy to change from that position.
	The coalition agreement included a commitment to ‘stop central government funding for new fixed speed cameras’. This commitment has been delivered.

Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what media or public speaking training Ministers in his Department have received since May 2010.

Simon Burns: Ministers in the Department have not received any media or public speaking training since May 2010.

Transport: Exhaust Emissions

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Committee on Climate Change's report, Scope of carbon budgets—Statutory advice on inclusion of international aviation and shipping, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the report's recommendations.

Norman Baker: The Government is in the process of considering the impacts of the potential inclusion of emissions from international aviation and shipping within the scope of the UK's carbon budgets and targets and takes this issue seriously. As part of this consideration, we are taking into account a range of factors, including the anticipated economic impacts and the level of progress that has been made towards action to tackle emissions from these sectors at the international level.

West Anglia Railway Line

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of likely passenger growth on the West Anglia mainline up to 2016.

Simon Burns: The Department is in the early stages of re-letting the East Anglia franchise and the modelling for passenger demand has not yet started.

West Anglia Railway Line

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made on investment in infrastructure on the West Anglia Main Line.

Simon Burns: There are a number of suggested upgrades for the West Anglia Main Line in the High Level Output Specification (HLOS) publication. The Department is waiting to receive Network Rail's view on these upgrades, which is due in January 2013.

West Coast Railway Line

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials in his Department are working on the franchise arrangements for the West Coast Main Line; and what has been the cost of negotiations on the new franchise for the West Coast Main Line since 15 August 2012.

Simon Burns: As of 15 October, a core team of three officials are leading on the franchise arrangements for the West Coast Main Line supported by colleagues from other areas of the Department as required. Negotiations with interested parties regarding the future of the West Coast franchise are still underway, and for this reason the Department is unable to release information about the cost of these negotiations.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Manufacturing Industries

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to improve skills capability for electronics design in engineering and manufacturing; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and SEMTA, the sector skills council for electronics manufacturing, have given their support to the industry-led initiative, the UK Electronics Skills Foundation (UKESF), which reaches into schools and universities to raise awareness of the significance and profile of electronics in modern life and in meeting social and technological challenges. It brings together companies and universities, and provides undergraduate students with early connections with companies in the sector through sponsorship, mentoring, summer schools and industrial work experience. It seeks to achieve a higher retention rate for UKESF-sponsored students graduating into the electronic design sector.
	BIS officials are working closely with electronics sector stakeholders on the ‘Electronic Systems—Challenges and Opportunities’ (ESCO) sector strategy which is focusing on barriers and opportunities for the UK's electronics systems sector and will examine the competitive position of the UK and present information on the size, economic and strategic contribution to the UK economy. The strategy, which is expected to be published in November 2012, includes a workstream looking at the skills and training issues for this sector.
	On engineering skills more broadly, Government reforms are developing a demand-led model to help deliver the engineering and technical skills that business needs. We are financing sustained investment in high quality vocational training to boost midrange skills, including record numbers of apprenticeships and creating 33 university technical colleges. The extensive measures we have taken to drive up the quality of apprenticeships will safeguard and improve the learning provided through the apprenticeship programme. We are also rebalancing the apprenticeship programme to offer specific, targeted support to help employers access advanced level and higher apprenticeships, and to develop new higher apprenticeships at level 5 and above. Through the Employer Ownership Pilot, we have taken radical steps to pilot greater employer ownership of vocational training by giving employers the opportunity to take ownership of the skills agenda for their industry or sector.

Aerospace Industry

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to help small and medium-sized enterprises in the aerospace industry export to fast-growing markets.

Michael Fallon: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) has a range of mechanisms available to support aerospace companies of all sizes. In addition to a renewed drive to encourage more companies to start exporting, UKTI is supporting existing exporters to reach more high growth and emerging markets. This financial year £9 million of additional funding will go directly towards boosting trade opportunities to small and medium size businesses by helping them to attend trade shows abroad or travel on an overseas trade mission. The additional support includes substantial discounts for firms that use UKTI's overseas market introduction service for the first time, to carry out targeted market research to help them find those crucial first contacts overseas and develop relationships, or use it to research one of UKTI's High Growth Markets for the first time.

Apprentices: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people have undertaken a Level 3 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics apprenticeship in Peterborough constituency in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Matthew Hancock: Table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship programme starts by level and sector subject area in Peterborough parliamentary constituency between 2006/07 and 2010/11, the latest academic year for which final data are available.
	
		
			 Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts by level and sector subject area in Peterborough parliamentary constituency, 2006/07 to 2010/11 
			 Sector subject area Level 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 
			 Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Intermediate (Level 2) 40 60 40 40 60 
			  Advanced (Level 3) 40 30 20 20 20 
			  Higher (Level 4) — — — — — 
			  Total 80 90 60 60 90 
			        
			 Information and Communication Technology Intermediate (Level 2) — — 10 10 10 
			  Advanced (Level 3) — — — — 10 
			  Higher (Level 4) — — — — — 
			  Total — 10 10 10 10 
			        
			 Science and Mathematics Intermediate (Level 2) — — — — — 
			  Advanced (Level 3) — — — — — 
			  Higher (Level 4) — — — — — 
			  Total — — — — — 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. ‘—’ indicates a value of less than five. 2. Geography is based on the home postcode of the learner. Geographic information is based on boundaries of regions as of May 2010. Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on the number of apprenticeship starts by geography is published in a supplementary table to a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 28 June 2012:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_supplementary_tables/Apprenticeship_sfr_supplementary_tables/

Breast Cancer: Research

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of public funding of cancer research is spent on identifying the causes of breast cancer.

David Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. It is an independent research funding body which receives its grant in aid from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	In 2010/11, the MRC spent £4.4 million on research into breast cancer. Of this, £2.0 million supported research on the causes of breast cancer.
	The MRC’s overall expenditure on cancer research in 2010 was £107.9 million(1)(, 2). This includes a broad portfolio of site-specific and general underpinning cancer research, some of which will be relevant to research on breast cancer and its causes as it is often the case that research relevant to one site may also have implications for other forms of cancer.
	The Department of Health supports cancer research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). In August 2011, the Government announced £800 million investment over five years in a series of NIHR biomedical research centres and units. This includes £61.5 million funding for the Royal Marsden/Institute of Cancer Research Biomedical Research Centre, which has a research theme on breast cancer.
	The NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) is currently hosting 108 studies in breast cancer, that are in set-up or recruiting patients. Expenditure by the CRN on research into particular cancer sites cannot be disaggregated from total CRN expenditure.
	(2) NCRI present data on research spend in calendar years, this is to allow analysis of investments across a range of different funders. For the MRC, the data for 2010 are broadly comparable to 2010/11 financial year spend.
	(1)Source:
	The National Cancer Research Institute Cancer Research Database(2).

British Antarctic Survey

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the Natural Environment Research Council report on the future of the British Antarctic Survey; and if he will place a copy of that report in the Library.

David Willetts: The report “The Future of the British Antarctic Survey” was an early version of a paper presented to the NERC Council in May 2012. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not hold a copy so the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has not assessed it. I am, however, aware of NERC's proposals for the British Antarctic Survey on which it is consulting the academic community. In line with the Haldane Principle, future arrangements for the UK operations of the British Antarctic Survey are the responsibility of NERC.
	Any changes would have no effect on the UK's commitment to scientific excellence in Antarctica nor on the existing footprint of scientific bases and research ships in the South Atlantic.
	The hon. Member may wish to contact the Natural Environment Research Council directly to request the report.

Business

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his Department's definition is of the small and medium-sized business sector.

Michael Fallon: There is no single definitive or universally accepted definition of a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME).
	For statistical purposes, in the National Statistics publication ‘Business Population Estimates for the UK and Regions' BIS define SMEs as those businesses with fewer than 250 employees.
	However, there are two further definitions used in the UK and Europe, which are as follows:
	1. EU definition of an SME
	In EU law an SME is defined as an enterprise with fewer than 250 employees and with a turnover of less than €50 million or alternatively a balance sheet of less than €43 million.
	2. UK law definition of an SME company
	In the UK, the Companies Act 2006 defines a SME for the purpose of accounting requirements.
	According to this a small company is one that meets at least two of the following conditions:
	(i) annual turnover of not more than £6.5 million
	(ii) a balance sheet total of not more than £3.26 million
	(iii) not more than 50 employees.
	A medium-sized company is one that meets at least two of the following conditions:
	(i) annual turnover of not more than £25.9 million
	(ii) a balance sheet total of not more than £12.9 million
	(iii) not more than 250 employees.

Business: Loans

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of small and medium-sized businesses who have had (a) an overdraft or (b) a business loan application rejected by a bank in each month of the last year; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: Over the last year, the percentage of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which had applied for credit that were unable to obtain a facility are as follows. Figures for the most recent three quarters are based on small sample sizes and are subject to revision over the next nine months.
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  Q3 2011 Q4 2011 Q1 2012 Q2 2012 
			 Percentage of loan applications ending with no facility 44 32 31 (1)— 
			 Percentage of overdraft applications ending with no facility 17 18 23 33 
			 (1) Not yet available. 
		
	
	Figures are taken from the most recent publication of the quarterly SME Finance Monitor. The SME Finance Monitor is an independently edited report, funded by the British Bankers' Association (BBA) as part of their commitments under the BBA Taskforce. It is the most comprehensive regular survey of small and medium-sized enterprises' experiences accessing finance. Its reports are publicly available at:
	http://www.sme-finance-monitor.co.uk

Business: Regulation

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what steps the Government is taking to reduce the amount of red tape;
	(2)  how his Department intends to reduce red tape for start-up businesses and encourage their growth.

Michael Fallon: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has reduced red tape for business by giving over 100,000 more businesses the flexibility to decide whether or not their company accounts should be audited. The regulations also allow companies that prepare their accounts under International Financial Reporting Standards to move to UK Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (ACCP) and take advantage of reduced disclosures.
	We have also withdrawn the extension of the right to request time to train to businesses with fewer than 250 employees. We have achieved agreement in Brussels to exempt up to 1.4 million UK small businesses from certain EU accounting rules.
	This Government has taken specific and concrete steps to reduce the amount of red tape. We have introduced a three year moratorium on new domestic regulation for micro-businesses and start-ups from 1 April 2011 in order to support growth and establish a period of increased regulatory stability for the smallest businesses. We have also introduced the one-in, one-out rule, so that if a Department wants to introduce a new regulation which generates costs for business, it must first identify a corresponding cut in regulation elsewhere with the same value. To date we have cut the costs of domestic regulation by £850 million thanks to this rule.
	The Government is also systematically examining some 6,500 substantive regulations that it inherited, through the Red Tape Challenge process. The Government has committed to abolish or substantially reduce at least 3,000 of these regulations. We will complete the identification of the regulations to be scrapped or overhauled by December 2013. In addition we recently announced that from April 2013 hundreds of thousands of businesses will be exempted from burdensome, regular health and safety inspections.
	In January 2012, the Prime Minister launched “Business in You”, a major campaign, to inspire people to realise their business ambitions and to highlight the range of support available for start-ups and growing businesses. The campaign is a partnership between Government and private enterprise and is being supported by a wide range of partners. More information is available at
	http://businessinyou.bis.gov.uk/

Business: Regulation

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the British Chambers of Commerce's Report, entitled Red Tape Challenged?.

Michael Fallon: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 17 January 2012, Official Report, column 782W.

Electric Cables

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess the effect of imports of counterfeit or falsely marked foreign electrical cable on employment levels in the UK electrical cabling sector.

Jo Swinson: There are no plans to make such an assessment. However Government, and associated public and private enforcement organisations, continue to engage actively with UK businesses to raise the profile of the threat of counterfeit products entering relevant supply chains, including supply chains in the electrical cabling sector.
	For example, the IP Crime Toolkit launched in November 2011, aims to make businesses more aware of the growing risk from counterfeit goods getting into supply chains—it also gives guidance on how to strengthen and protect intellectual property (IP) assets:
	http://www.ipo.gov.uk/ipctoolkit.pdf

Fossil Fuels: Export Credit Guarantees

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 17 July 2012, Official Report, columns 115-16WS, on green technologies (UKTI and ECGD Support), whether the Export Credits Guarantee Department would be permitted to support export contracts for new fossil fuel plant with annual emissions exceeding 450g/kWh of carbon dioxide at base load.

Michael Fallon: The Export Credits Guarantee Department would be permitted to consider support for an export contract for a new fossil fuel plant with annual emissions exceeding 450 g/kWh of carbon dioxide at base load, provided that support is in line with the relevant international standards as set out in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Common Approaches for Officially Supported Export Credits and Environmental and Social Due Diligence.

Higher Education

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward legislative proposals to bring commercial for-profit universities within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Ministry of Justice is the lead department for the Freedom of Information Act and will respond in due course to the House of Commons Justice Select Committee's report ‘Post-legislative scrutiny of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.’ Currently, higher education providers who receive grant funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) are within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Typically, higher education providers not in receipt of HEFCE grant funding, including those operating on a commercial for-profit basis, are not within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act.

India

Ian Paisley Jnr: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the UK's primary exports are to India.

Michael Fallon: The UK exported over £2.2 billion of goods to India in the first six months of 2012, as shown in the following table.
	
		
			 UK goods exports to India, first half of 2012 (by SITC code) 
			  January to June 2012 (£ million) Percentage of total 
			 Total 2,256 — 
			 667—Pearls, precious and semi-precious stones, unworked or worked 460 20 
			 681—Silver, platinum and other metals of the platinum group 316 14 
			 282—Ferrous waste and scrap; remelting ingots of iron or steel 220 10 
			 714—Engines and motors, non-ele (other than those of groups 712, 713, & 718); parts, nes, of these engines and motors 104 5 
			 288—Non-ferrous base metal waste and scrap, nes 91 4 
			 792—Aircraft & associated equipment; spacecraft (including satellites) & spacecraft launch vehicles; parts thereof 73 3 
			 874—Measuring, checking, analysing and controlling instruments and apparatus, nes 67 3 
			 781—Motor cars & other m/vehicles principally designed for transport of persons (o/t public-transport vehicles) 53 2 
			 All other commodities 872 39 
			 Source: HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics 
		
	
	The UK also exports services to India. The UK exported over £2.6 billion of services to India in 2011 (the latest data available). Data by service type are shown in the following table. “Other business services” account for a third of all service exports, followed by Travel and Transportation both accounting for around a fifth of service exports by value.
	
		
			 UK services exports to India, 2011 
			  £ million Percentage of total 
			 Total 2,637 — 
			 Other business services 909 34 
			 Travel 559 21 
			 Transportation 524 20 
			 Financial 262 10 
			 Government 113 4 
			 Computer and information 81 3 
			 Communications 59 2 
			 Insurance 51 2 
			 Royalties and license fees 40 2 
			 Construction 22 1 
			 Personal, cultural and recreational 17 1 
			 Source: ONS Pink Book 2012

Industry: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2012, Official Report, column 576W, on industry: Scotland, what recent discussions have taken place with the Scottish Government on the (a) manufacturing and (b) construction sector in Scotland.

Michael Fallon: Most matters relating to the development of the Scottish manufacturing and construction sectors are devolved to the Scottish Parliament and discussions take place within that context. Discussions on construction have included the Construction Act reforms, prequalification, the Low Carbon Construction Action Plan and Building Information Modelling.

Licensing

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what permits and licences his Department and its public bodies issue to businesses.

Michael Fallon: The Department issues export and import licences to UK businesses.
	Four of the Department’s Executive agencies issue licences.
	The UK Space Agency issues licences on behalf of the Secretary of State under the Outer Space Act 1986 to enable organisations established in the UK or one of its Crown Dependencies or overseas territories to carry out one of the following activities:
	(a) launch or procure the launch of a space object;
	(b) operate a space object;
	(c) any activity in outer space.
	As an information trading fund, Land Registry licenses the use and reuse of data it has collected and analysed, on commercial terms. Each add value service has its own separate contract in order to comply with the Information Fair Trader Scheme (IFTS) principles of transparency, fairness and challenge. Each contract requests that customers agree to the terms and conditions and sets out service descriptions and clauses addressing data protection and permitted use, as well as pricing, payment methods, operating hours and service level agreements.
	The Met Office uses a variety of licences for its products and services, depending on the type of customer and the use to which the product or service will be put.
	Ordnance Survey issue various licences which enable the use and reuse by a wide range of users of the geographic information products and services that Ordnance Survey creates. The type of licence issued depends on the proposed type of use of the information, however, a range of licences are available in order to best meet business’ needs. Ordnance Survey’s authority to issue these licences originates from the delegation of authority from the controller of OPSI to license and manage the Crown copyright and Crown database rights subsisting in Ordnance Survey materials. These licensing activities are primarily overseen and regulated via the Information Fair Trader Scheme administered by the National Archives.

London Metropolitan University

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many overseas students at London Metropolitan University he expects to apply for help from the fund set up to support them.

David Willetts: The fund will provide up to £2 million from existing budgets to allow affected legitimate students to meet additional costs they may incur by moving to another institution. The fund went live on 1 October 2012 and at the moment it is too early to say what the overall level of demand will be. Initial data from the Higher Education Funding Council for England show that, as of 3 October 2012, there had been 53 applications to the fund.

London Metropolitan University

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the likely average payment per student from the fund set up to help overseas students at London Metropolitan University.

David Willetts: The fund will provide up to £2 million from existing budgets to allow affected legitimate students to meet additional costs they may incur by moving to another institution. The fund went live on 1 October 2012 and at the moment it is too early to say what the level of demand will be or the average payment per student.

London Metropolitan University

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students affected by the decision to revoke London Metropolitan University's highly trusted status have gained a place on a new university course to date.

David Willetts: Following the recent legal proceedings, legitimate non-EU students are able to continue study at London Metropolitan University until their course has ended or the end of the academic year, whichever is sooner. As a result, the number of students choosing to stay at the university or transfer to another institution is changing and the final position will not become clear until later in the month, when the application cycle closes.

London Metropolitan University

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what methodology informed the Government's decision to establish a fund to help overseas students at London Metropolitan University affected by the decision to revoke London Metropolitan University's highly trusted status.

David Willetts: Our decision to establish a fund covering the reasonable additional costs faced by legitimate students was informed by our recognition of the important contribution that overseas students make to the UK's economy.
	The Government's priority is to ensure that legitimate overseas students affected by the decision to revoke London Metropolitan University's highly trusted status are given the support required to continue their studies.

London Metropolitan University

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 17 September 2012, Official Report, column 517W, on London Metropolitan University, how many students have made an application for support from the London Metropolitan Fund; and how many such students have been successful.

David Willetts: The fund went live on 1 October 2012. Initial data from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) show that as of 3 October 2012 there had been 53 applications to the fund. HEFCE are aiming to process claims within 10 working days so it is too early to say how many have been successful.

London Metropolitan University

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 17 September 2012, Official Report, column 517W, on London Metropolitan University, how many non-EU students who were previously enrolled at London Metropolitan University have found a place at another UK higher education institute through the UCAS clearing system.

David Willetts: Following the recent legal proceedings, legitimate non-EU students are able to continue study at London Metropolitan university until their course has ended or the end of the academic year, whichever is sooner. As a result, the number of students choosing to stay at the university or transfer to another institution is changing and the final position will not become clear until later in the month, when the application cycle closes.

Manufacturing Industries

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess the findings in the report The route to growth from EEF; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: We welcome this report from the Engineering Employers' Federation (EEF), which includes a number of recommendations that are consistent with and build on the work the Government has done to date on growth. In their report, the EEF call for a clear vision for the economy through an industrial strategy. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), recently outlined our industrial strategy on 10 September 2012, Official Report, column 25.

Manufacturing Industries

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to lower the cost of doing business for (a) British industry and (b) the manufacturing sector.

Michael Fallon: The Government's “Plan for Growth”, published in March 2011, set out clear ambitions to create the most competitive tax system in the G20 and to make the UK the best place in Europe to start, finance and grow a business. By 2014 corporation tax will fall to 22%, the lowest in the G7, and the rate of relief under the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credits scheme has been increased to 225% of qualifying R&D costs from 1 April 2012; this represents one of the most competitive rates in the world. The Patent Box, which will be introduced from April 2013, will offer a preferential 10% Corporation Tax on profits from patents and similar intellectual property.
	Rising electricity costs pose a key risk for energy intensive industries whose international competitiveness is most affected by energy and climate change policies. In November's autumn statement the Government announced a package of measures to reduce the impact of Government policy on the cost of electricity for these businesses. The package is worth around £250 million to energy intensive industries to reduce their energy bills, subject to state aid approval.
	The Government has set out an ambitious agenda to reduce the overall burden of regulation on business over the course of this Parliament. The “One In, One Out” rule introduced by the Government is the first of its kind anywhere in the world, and has so far delivered a cumulative reduction of business burdens since 2011 of at least £850 million. The “Red Tape Challenge” aimed to scrap or simplify regulations that are ineffective, unnecessary or obsolete. The Manufacturing theme of the Red Tape Challenge was launched in July 2011, with results announced as part of autumn statement 2011. The final deregulation package sets out changes to scrap or simplify 65 different rules and regulations affecting this sector.
	Furthermore, plans from other themes such as employment-related law and environment are expected to deliver significant savings to industry and the manufacturing sector, for example a package of environmental deregulation which will save businesses at least £1 billion over five years.

Manufacturing Industries: Government Assistance

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to assist manufacturing companies wishing to enter a new market.

Michael Fallon: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) has a range of mechanisms available to support manufacturing companies of all sizes. In addition to a renewed drive to encourage more companies to start exporting, UKTI is supporting existing exporters to reach more high growth and emerging markets. This financial year £9 million of additional funding will go directly towards boosting trade opportunities to small and medium-sized businesses by helping them to attend trade shows abroad or travel on an overseas trade mission. The additional support includes substantial discounts for firms that use UKTI's overseas market introduction service for the first time, to carry out targeted market research to help them find those crucial first contacts overseas and develop relationships, or use it to research one of UKTI's High Growth Markets for the first time.

Departmental Meetings

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on what dates (a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) senior officials in his Department met representatives of (i) Bridgepoint, (ii) Lincoln, (iii) Kaplan, (iv) Corinthian, (v) Apollo, (vi) Kaiser, (vii) Education Management Corporation, (viii) Rosmussen, (ix) Career Education Corporation and (x) Westwood in (A) 2011 and (B) 2012; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I meet regularly with organisations that have an interest in higher education. A quarterly-updated list of all Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) ministerial meetings with external organisations is available at:
	http://data.gov.uk/dataset/disclosure-ministerial-hospitality-received-department-for-business
	BIS officials will also have had meetings with a range of higher education providers, but a comprehensive record of these is not maintained.

Minimum Wage

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of times an accommodation offset was deducted by an employer from an employee’s wage packet in each year since 1998.

Jo Swinson: The Department does not hold this information.
	Accommodation is the only benefit in kind that can count towards the minimum wage and employers can offset the cost of providing accommodation to workers up to a maximum daily limit. The Low Pay Commission is currently reviewing the accommodation offset and is due to report to Government in February 2013. We will consider its report carefully once it has been received.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department has invested in supporting UK car manufacturers develop green and hybrid car technologies in the last year; and what plans he has for the future allocation of funds for this purpose.

Michael Fallon: The Government has made provision of over £400 million for measures to promote the uptake of ultra-low carbon vehicles in the UK. This includes approximately £80 million supporting research and development activities; £30 million for the installation of infrastructure; and £300 million to support consumer incentives for the life of the Parliament.
	BIS, with the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles has to date invested over £150 million in more than 100 major automotive research, development and validation projects under the TSB's Low Carbon Innovation Platform which has been more than matched with around £200 million of private sector funding. In addition, TSB recently announced £7.5 million funding for five major research and development projects which could speed-up the adoption of energy systems using hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
	At the Low Carbon Vehicle 2012 event on 5 September 2012, I announced £9 million of new funding to support the creation of an Energy Storage Centre based at the High Value Manufacturing Catapult.
	Further competitions under the Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform are under consideration which would likely be formulated around strategic CO2 reduction technologies identified by the Automotive Council.

New Businesses: Young People

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2012, Official Report, column 573W, on business: Government assistance, how many (a) expressions of interest have been received and (b) loans have been issued under the Start Up Loans scheme.

Michael Fallon: holding answer 18 September 2012
	By Friday 14 September, 1,264 expressions of interest had been received directly by the Start-Up Loans Company. Further expressions are being received by our delivery partners, but those data are not yet held centrally.
	Applications take around three weeks to be processed, allowing applicants time to develop their business plans and benefit from hands-on support in getting from concept to finance. To date, an initial seven loans have been made, and the Start-Up Loans Company projections forecast around 2,800 loans being issued under the pilot period of the scheme.

Overseas Students: EU Nationals

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many EU citizens from other member states enrolled at UK universities to study as an undergraduate in each of the last five years.

David Willetts: holding answer 18 September 2012
	The latest available information on EU domiciled undergraduate enrolments at UK Higher Education Institutions is shown separately in the following table for the academic years 2006/07 to 2010/11. Information on enrolments at UK Higher Education Institutions for the 2011/12 academic year will become available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in January 2013.
	
		
			 EU domiciled(1) undergraduate enrolments(2) UK higher education institutions—Academic years 2006/07 to 2010/11 
			 Academic year Enrolments 
			 2006/07 64,165 
			 2007/08 69,865 
			 2008/09 73,375 
			 2009/10 77,465 
			 2010/11 80,320 
			 (1) Domicile refers to a student's permanent or home address prior to entry to their course. (2) Covers undergraduate full and part-time students in all years of study. Notes: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded up or down to the nearest five, so components may not sum to totals. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record.

Overseas Trade

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to work with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to assist British companies wishing to export their products.

Michael Fallon: Through UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), this Department helps UK based businesses to take advantage of export opportunities and assists overseas companies to bring their high-quality investment to the UK.
	UKTI works closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to provide practical support to exporters and inward investors through its teams which are co-located in FCO Posts in some 100 markets overseas.
	The FCO's ‘Charter for Business' complements UKTI's strategy ‘Britain Open for Business' and has made supporting UK businesses abroad and attracting investors to the UK a core activity for the FCO. It focuses on getting the whole of the FCO behind growth and has put prosperity at the heart of foreign policy.
	This approach emphasises the Government's joined-up approach to trade and investment and how UKTI's activities help to support British businesses overseas, in partnership with the FCO and other Government Departments.

Procurement

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of his Department and its agencies' procurement contracts were won by small and medium-sized businesses in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13 to date.

Jo Swinson: holding answer 18 September 2012
	Research Councils UK Shared Services Centre Ltd (RCUK SSC) has taken over the provision of procurement services on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) from 1 August 2012. RCUK SSC is currently undertaking a data analysis of BIS and Partner Organisations which initially will focus on who BIS are transacting with; this information will then enable us to identify where to direct our efforts to establish the number of contracts that are in place and subsequently identify what proportion of those contracts are with small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
	What we can provide is the data which have been collected recently which identify the percentage by value of business placed with SMEs. This information is collected across Government and is the current metric used to measure performance against the target of 25% of activity with SMEs.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			 (a) 2010-11 25 
			 (b) 2011-12 27 
			 (c) 2012-13 (1)30 
			 (1) Quarter 1 figures only. 
		
	
	These figures are based on the data RCUK SSC have access to and cover the following organisations only:
	Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service
	Companies House
	Culham Centre for Fusion Energy
	Department for Business Innovation and Skills
	Higher Education Funding Council for England
	Intellectual Property Office
	Land Registry
	National Measurement Office
	Ordnance Survey
	Skills Funding Agency
	Student Loans Company
	The Met Office
	UK Commission for Employment and Skills
	RCUK and the 7 Research Councils
	UK Trade and Investment Administration
	RCUK SSC does not have and cannot provide data for all other BIS partner organisations, which would need to be approached individually. I have asked the Chief Executive of the Insolvency Service to reply directly to the hon. Member with their information.
	Letter from Richard Judge, dated 18 September 2012
	The Secretary of State, for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question, what proportion of his Department and its agencies' procurement contracts were won by small and medium-sized businesses in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13 to date.
	Where the Insolvency Service has had direct responsibility for awarding contracts, the figures obtained show the following:
	2010 - 2011 = Not all data available
	2011 - 2012 = 50%
	2012 - 17/09/12 = 0%

Redundancy

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what evidence his Department gathered on the potential direct benefits to business in advance of taking the decision to consult on reducing the consultation period prior to collective redundancies.

Jo Swinson: The Government decided to consult on changes to the collective redundancies rules in response to a Call for Evidence conducted between November 2011 and January 2012. The Call for Evidence asked specific questions on the impact of the current rules and on options for change. In response, businesses identified a number of areas where they would benefit directly and indirectly from change. The findings of the Call for Evidence informed the consultation-stage impact assessment (IA), which the Department published in June 2012. The IA can be found at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/employment-matters/docs/c/12-809-collective-redundancies-consultation-impact.pdf
	Officials in the Department gathered further evidence through a public consultation exercise which closed on 19 September. Throughout the Call for Evidence and the consultation, the officials have engaged with stakeholders to assess the impact of the proposed changes.

Regional Growth Fund: North West

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much has been spent by the regional growth fund in (a) the North West and (b) Warrington since its launch; how many jobs have been created as a result; and what the average cost was of each job created.

Michael Fallon: 47 bids from the North West to Rounds 1 and 2 of the regional growth fund (RGF) were successful. These bids were conditionally allocated £234 million and are expected to leverage £1.549 billion of private sector investment, and create and safeguard a total of 55,598 jobs over the period 2011-12. This corresponds to a gross cost per job of £4,209. None of the North West bids will directly create jobs in Warrington, although businesses in Warrington may benefit from other national and regional programmes.
	Beneficiaries must achieve specific investment and employment triggers in order to draw down RGF funding. To date 25 of the 47 projects/programmes have started and £37.5 million of RGF funding has been drawn down. Three projects have withdrawn.
	Monitoring reports to date indicate that 1,411 jobs have been created or safeguarded in the North West as a result of RGF funding. The results of RGF Round 3 funding bids will be announced shortly.

Research

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on research and development in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12; and how much he plans to spend in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

David Willetts: This Department published Science, Engineering and Technology Statistics on 21 September 2012 which provides out-turn figures for Departmental expenditure on research and development for 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. Figures for 2011-12 have not yet been published.
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/science/science-funding/set-stats
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not prescribe departmental budget to be spent on research and development for future years. Directorates or groups allocate their budget to fund research as policy questions arise.
	However, the £4.6 billion per annum funding for science and research programmes through the Research Councils and the Higher Education Funding Council for England has been protected in cash terms, and ring fenced against future pressures during the spending review period to 2014-15.

Social Enterprises

Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many visits he has made to social enterprises since May 2010;
	(2)  how many meetings he has attended with representatives of social enterprises since May 2010.

Michael Fallon: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), regularly meets and visits businesses (including social enterprises) in the course of his work.

Social Enterprises

Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department has taken to support the growth of social enterprises.

Michael Fallon: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is committed to supporting social enterprise as a key strand of our drive for sustainable economic growth. We are working with HM Treasury on their review of social enterprise announced in Budget 2012 and along with the Cabinet Office we launched Big Society Capital last year funded through the Big Society Trust and with £200 million through the Merlin Bank agreement. We also provide access to finance through the community development finance institutions who provide microfinance through loans to start-up companies, individuals and established enterprises from their geographical area or community who are unable to access finance from the more traditional sources such as banks. The businesslink.gov.uk website provides information on the different streams on non-bank finance available to businesses and social enterprises. It also provides a link to the Community Development Finance Association’s (CDFA) Finding Finance website. This tool enables both small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and social enterprises to find the community development finance institution (CDFI) that provides finance best suited for their specific needs.

Students: Loans

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students originally studying at commercial for-profit universities had informed the Student Loans Company they had (a) withdrawn from their course and (b) not passed their degree in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: In assessing students' eligibility for student loans, the Department does not distinguish between those universities that operate on a commercial for-profit basis, and those that do not. The information requested is not available.

Students: Loans

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate the Student Loans Company has made of the number of students in receipt of loans who will be studying at commercial for-profit universities in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not distinguish between those universities that operate on a commercial for-profit basis, and those that do not.
	I have, however, previously placed a list in the Library of the House showing the number of students that took out student loans in respect of studies with all types of non-publicly funded providers in each year since 2006. This was in response to parliamentary question 100853 (2010/9517) answered on 19 March 2012, Official Report, column 334W.
	This shows an upward trend in the numbers of students, courses, and institutions. This in line with the Government's policy that new providers and new forms of higher education provision will help to stimulate and strengthen market competition, promote student choice, and ensure value for money.

Tobacco: Packaging

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his Department's Better Regulation guidelines for consultations, whether his Department indicated either orally or in writing to the Department of Health that it was satisfied with the consumer surveys which form part of the consultation on plain packaging for tobacco products.

Michael Fallon: holding answer 7 September 2012
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 6 September 2012, Official Report, column 401W.